New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-05
CANAL MAY HARM !. S.
Europe Will Develop Its South
American Trade.
TO AMERICAS DETRIMENl
Panama Waterway Cannot but
Tighten Continents Firm
Commercial Grip.
TRy cable to The Tribune. J

| Paris. June 4. will the Panama
Canal merely serve to strengthen the
trade relations between South America
and Europe and shut out the Unite'
States more than ever?'
This is the question which Ini'e"
States business men abroad are ASKING
as evidence accumulates that Europe -
making careful preparations to take al,
vantage Of the great canal as soon as IL
is opened. The general opinion is tha'
the United States lacks sufficient me'-
chant marine to utilize its own oppor-
tunities. Several OF the leading South
| American republics, on the other hah"
are building special ships for the ran
anna trade
One OF the three fine cruisers which
Peru is having built I'm England espe-
cially for use i'm the Panama region ar
rived yesterday at Havre and was muc"
admired. These cruisers are said 10 re-
veal the intention Of several of the more
energetic Of the South American nations
to subsidize lines of their own ana cap'-
ure as much of the trade - possible. ~
was learned that the leading French
lines. notably the Compasnie FrancaiSe
de Navigation des Chargeurs Reunls' are
preparing to meet the new conoi'iohs.
especially aiming to secure the traue "a
the west coast of the two Americas a
former project to reach these regions a.
rect by way Of the Suez Canal failed.
President Tafts statements that the
canal tolls will be 81 a gross ton, or th1
same as on the Suez waterway. assures
the practicablity Of the Panama Canai
from Europe's point of view. although
this rate will not pay the expenses OF
the canal. Thus it is apparent that I'M
less the United states develops trade ny
means of its own vessels IT cannot prom
from the canal.
THE present rreponderance Of Euro
pean influence in South America sain
the representative Of a large American
firm is due largely to the more lhu-
mate acquaintance made through nu-
rerous first class connections. without
comDetition from the United states
Italy's extraordinary hold on Argentina
where nearly two million Italians have
settled was developed BY the Italian
steamship companies operating frequent
and fast steamers between the nome
ports and Buenos Ayres.
similarly. the French and Germans
have developed extensive trade connec-
,ions with Mexico, Brazil and Central
America. The new harbor works at RIO
da Janeiro were built by French capital
and are operated by a staff of French
engineers. The trade Of the unlted
states with South American repuolics'
on the other hand. doesn't amount 10
more than Is per cent OF their total I'M
norts. European business men nave
learned that easily the best way Of Sc
curing export and import trade is by es-
,ahIisbing express steamship service tc
South America.
There are seasons when South Amer
leans are more numerous in Paris than
New Workers In Italy the term 'Ameri'
can Is always understood 10 mean
South American because of their di-
rect trade relations. In view OF these
facts. it seems likely that unless the
United states takes immediate action to
onerate it's own ships the Panama Canal
will merely serve to strengthen Europe's
hold on South America"