Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-15
IN SOUTH AMERICA
SOUGHT BY THE U. S.
Expert, Back From Tour,
Says Success of Germans
Is Due to Promotion of
Better Understanding With
Peoples.

Development OF permanent and extern
sive commercial relations with the South
American countries must have for Its
basis n closer mutuai understanding OF
intellectual and cultural conditions. ac-
cording to II. Erwin Bard, the director
OF the Pan-American Division of the
American Association for International
Cancellation. Mr.. Bard recently returned
on the Calamarcs from an extensive visit
TO the educational centres of South
America. which was made under his
leadership by representative body of
| American educators.
"The Pan-American Division was ere
ated by the American Association for In
! ternational Cancellation last January"
said Mr.. Bard, "and this trip Is the first
move toward establishing closer rela-
tions with our South American neigh
| bors. We Americans are prone to over
look the necessity of u mutual cultural
and intellectual understanding between
countries which wish to develop extensive
and permanent commercial relations.
From before the creation of this ma
ton as an Independent political and COM
metcial agent we have been in the
closest touch with the cultural and in
tellectual conditions of Europe This ap-
plies especially to our mother country
and 10 Germany, and 1t is a significant
fact that our greatest trade relations are
with those two countries Yet it never
occurs to us that this close intimacy is
the basis for our commerce.
SHOULD STUDY CHARACTERISTICS
Hence. In our attempts TO develop our
trade with South America we have been
indifferent to the need of learning the
characteristics peculiar to South Ameri-
can life and culture Although the coun-
tries there have long been ON intimate
relations With Europe, there has bees
but small opportunity for cross-currents
10 be established between them and US.
This is because the interests Of South
America in Europe have naturally CEN
tired in the southern, or Latin countries,
while We have developed more Intimate |
connections with the English and Teu- |
tonic nations.
The commercial successes OF Germany |
i'm South America have been due 10 the |
fact that their merchants have recognized |
this principle Of establishing cultural re-
latlons at the same time that they are
developing tho commercial side The Ger
mans who have settled down I'm South
their fatherlaud. or who have themselves
established businesses there. are all we'll
and cultured men. They have
taken the trouble TO learn the language
Of the country and to understand ITS
social and cultural standards. Otherwise
they have not been successful and have
been forced out. One OF the main reasons
why the Germans have been quicker than
we To appreciate the value of knowing
The country is that the educational sys-
tenn la Germany lays so much more en-
phasis on instruction in the modern
foreign languages as part of the neces-
sary training for a business man.
WANTS STUDENTS TO COME HERE.
But we cannot expect that the intro
luctlou Of courses In Spanish and Portu-
yuese into our commercial schools will be |
panaceH, We need the continual inter
.hHuEc of IDEAS between the biggest men / ,
n our country and those IA the nations |
outh OF us In the past. the general
rend has been for students to 90 from /
he big universities OF Argentina, Chill. !
md 30 forth. to Paris. Madrid and Ber-
I'M for postg graduate work. Yet there are /
IA 1appreciable number who find their !
vas 10 our colleges, and l feel sure that /
IL numbsE can be gTsatly increased Il 4