The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-20
COMMERCE BUREAU
AT WORK WITH VIEW
TO INCREASE TRADE
WITH SOUTHAMER|CA
Financial Embarrassment
of Southern Countries
Gravely Complicates Sit
uation-Loan Syndicate
Suggested for Relief

Washington. November 19.--The bu-
reau of foreign and domestic commerce
Is at work ON reports from every
South American country with a view
to suggesting to American manufac-
turers a feasible way of securing the
enormous trade with those countries
which Germany was forced to aban-
don mt the outbreak of the European
war.
Preliminary statements show the situa-
ton TO be greatly complicated. With the
exception of Argentina. every country is
financially embarrassed, and with some,
notably Brazil, an unsound financial con-
dition aggravated by the war adds to
the difficulties. In several countries the
situation is the same as that which faced
cotton growers of the United States when
their European market was closed by the
war. They are loaded with huge crops
and mineral products usually absorbed
by European manufacturing, now out of
reach.
There are very few factories in South
America, and little prospect that those of
the United States will be able to take
up any large portion of the raw ma
terials now filling South American ware
houses. Without exception American con-
suls reported that some arrangement must
be made to permit South American pro-
ducers to realize to some extent on these
stored products as a preliminary estab-
CHI rf do xrrith "a
southern continent
Many Difficulties
Those in close touch with the situa-
ton pointed out tonight that many diff
ficulties would be encountered in any
effort to organize a loan syndicate to
aid South American producers as cotton
producers are being aided in this coun-
try OFFICIALS did not comment on -rs
movement to provide such loan launched
at Memphis today at a conference of
bankers and business men of the Missis-
sippi valley and central west. but there
was a general feeling that its success
would be hard to accomplish, because of
the generally disturbed financial condi-
tions of the countries involved.
That 1t was unlikely anything could be
accomplished toward turning South Amer
lean trade to the United States for sew
eral months at least, was generally ad-
mitted by officials, but they were hope
full that a way would be eventually found.
They are working out a plan the nature
of which has not been disclosed but which
it is expected will be placed before Amer
lean business men within a month In
the form of a suggestion by Secretary
Redfeld.
At the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States an optimistic view of the
South American trade situation was ex-
eral secretary, said many articles of alb
solute necessity, formerly shipped into
South America from Germany, now must
be obtained In the United States. Trained
statesmen, he said, who knew the language
and customs of those countries, should
have little trouble in obtaining these or
ders. The urgency of the case made it
certain ways of financing them would
be found, he declared.
Urges Cooperation
Mr.. Goodwin said the national cham
Der would take up with the federal trade
commission Immediately upon it's appoint
ment by the President the urgent neces-
sity of amendment to the antitrust laws
to permit American manufacturers to CO.
operate In handling their foreign trade.
At present, he said, each business house
here must act independently for fear of
the law, while South American pur-
chasers might combine and virtually die
tate terms. Cooperation also would
serve to permit the limited supply of
American statesmen trained for sery
in South America to work for seve
interests and divide the business obtain
English and German trade in South Am
fca, he said had been built up by su
means.