The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-05
EXACCERATE EXPORT
TRADE DIFFICULTIES
of Business With South American Nations Are
Now Minmzed in Some Quarters But Field is Declared
Inviting War Has Not Shut off All Foreign Com
petition

Occasionally. public opinion on
given question shifts suddenly. from
one extreme TO the other. and without
any change in the underlying condi-
tlons. This ~ just what mas pecn
happening in the last two and haiI
months In regard TO the export trade
OF the United States.
In the first days OF the European
war export trade came to a complete
standstiil shortly afterwards. some
very highly colored statements began
to appear-~unfortunat from those
who pose as Authorities on all matters
pertaining to export trade; now, the
swing is In the other direction, and
there is a tendency to exaggerate the
difficulties of export business under
existing conditions.
The Philadelphia Commercial Mu-
scum was me of the first. If no, the
very first. to issue a word of warn
Ing against the wave OF hysteria which
seemed to sweep over the country
shortly after the outbreak OF the war.
with reference to the possibilities
Of trade in neutral countries, and par
ticularly in South America. 1t IL to
be feared that the pendulum is now
swinging to The other extreme. and 1t
may be timely to issue another WORD
OF warning. There Is very great
danger thatathe opportunities that 90
exist in South America Will be lost
because Of possible reaction in the
minds OF manufacturers who may De
inclined to exaggerate the difficulties
and minimize the possibilities.
1t would be a mistake to imagine.
however. that European competition
has been entirely removed. and that
20. 70
America without fear Of finding in the
field any Of their old European RI
walls. All competitors are seriousiy
handica pped by the war i'm when
thev are engased. or by which they
are unfavorably affected. One great
competitor. Germany. has been almost
entirely eliminated, but another. Eng
land. busily engaged with her iert
hand in CARRYING on the war. In quite
a. busiIy reaching out with her right
hand for the trade tha- Germany mas
lost
But there can be no disputing the
fact that European competition mas
on the whole diminished. ana tnat
there are. In spite OF the unfavora Die
financial situation. in spite of the lack
of banking methods. in spite Of the
alleged absence Of adequate shipping
facilities. opportunities for laying the
foundation for a lucrative business
with South America, business that
should grow steadily In volume as the
years pass.
There il no doubt that South Amer
,ca's purchasing power has been d.
unfinished: that the volume OF orders
coming from South American FIRMS
who have bought the bulk OF their
supplies in this country. may fall or.
and that caution should be exercised
in extending credits. We make very
great mistake, however, Ii We imagine
thar imports by our southern neiEn-
hors are to cea se, or II we figure that
they are not to be counted as pos
,ible customers for the products OF
our factories
+ The opportunity for an immediate
increase OF exports from the United
states to South America Is not excep-
tionAl,y bright. but the chances Tor
increasing the number Of customers
are rood. and II behooves the Ameri-
can manufacturer to take advantage
Of the opportunity to get these new
customerx on his books Once this
il done. a general conditions improve
the orders Of these customers. new as
well al old, will increase In size, ana
the total exports win be materially
augmented.
This Ia no time to mistake tlmidity
for caution. Philadelphia CONNER
ciai Museum