Evening journal., 1914-10-03
TRADE CONQUEST OF LATIN.AlTERICA.

Ohm BARRETT, DlrcctOr-Cencrdl or the Pan /
American Union, has issued a warning to Amer /
regarding the Latin-American commercial sit
uaton that is timely and doubtless will constrain
many business in this country to change their
trade expansion views in essential particulars. Mr..
Barrett recognizes the widespread and unprecedented
public interest in the commercial opportunities in
South America since the european started. That
interest he says has been followed by so much mis-
conception of the real trade and economic conditions
obtaining in certain parts of Latin-America that IN
justice both to the United States and Latin America,
he deems it his duty to sound note Of caution and
warnins
Immediately after the outbreak Of the European war,
il Is revealed Mr. Barrett addressed memorandum
to the commercial and financial interests in this coun-
try lie asked them 10 be prepared &c meet the COM
bincd responsibility and opportunity presented in
Latin-America by the Quite naturally what
ne said attracted widespread attention Since then
new phase of the situation has developed It is re-
ceivlng the careful consideration deserves especial
ly when it is supported by cable adyices
srhese advces" Mr.. Barrett says. emphasize that
what is needed this hour in Latin-America Is not
so much supply of the manufactured products Of the
United States although required in considerable guam
titles but money loans advances, credits on pur
cbases and markets reasonable rates for raw prod
acts which usually TO Europe If Latin America can
sell at a fair figure her accommodating raw products
and buy I'm turn through receiving financial help
and cooperation in the advances and credits
United states eApulleiaf iihpoi'0i9 anu ""D''
the situation will be speedily remedied and the COM
mereal interests of the United States and Latn-Amer-
ica will truly enter upon new era Of Pan-American
commerce and comfy.
"The fact that twenty Latin-American countries
last year bought imports and sold exports to the vast
amount Of s3OOO,OOOOOo, Of which $20OOOOO0OO were
transactions with Europe proves beyond bubble or
doubt the opportunity Is there but subject to the
conditions herein noted That the United States al
ready has a good start making encouraging
gress shown by the fact that its exchange Of trade
with Latn-America has grown in the last years,
or during the present administration Of the PanAmer
lean Union nearly 100 per cent or from Si5OOOOOOO
to sS5OOOO,OOO.
"The European war; while greatly lessening the
sources Of Iatin-American imports and the market
for exports and opening correspondingly greater
opportunity to United States exports and imports has
SO unayoidably crippled Latin-American financial re-
sources aud commercial machinery that it must re-
ouire several months or a year before conditions can
readiust themselves and permit results that many
United States business men expect Immediately
Despite the efforts not only Of the Latin-American
emil sses, legations and censulates but Of the Pam
American Union, international organization, and
the United States Departments Of State and Commerce
10 the situation exactly exists countless ar
ticles have been appearing in various newspapers and
magazines emphasizing alleged golden opportunity
without pointing It's actual and present environ
mer Of money ughtness and disloceton OF nterna-
]
and commercial agents, in consequence. crowdng
the steamers bound for Latin-America with the ex-
pecation that they will find the Latn-Ameracns
awaiting .hem with outstreched hands filled with gold
and ready to buy everything and anything they have
to sell These viii presently return to the United
States and unfairly condemn and criticse the markets
and peoples of the countries visited
"a great stream of letters and kilograms from both
North and South America daily pouring into the Of
fee Of the Pan American Union, the international
American bureau OF information and they prove the
widespread interest in the field and opportunity, but
they are invariably answered not only with the state
ment of the actual opportunity but with admonition
that the Latin American market while vastly poten-
tal is at this embarrassed by serious inan-
oial stringenoy and dislocation of commercial condi
tiops for which it is not in itself to blame
"The opportunity OF the hour, therefore, in a word
is not much for immediate large sales of United
States manufactured products for cooperation
and mutual help together with careful investigation
Of commercial conditions and preparation to meet fu
ture competition successfully"
In other words, that the financial industrial ant
commercial interests of the United States must worl
hand-n-hand the trade conquest of Latin-Americ,
and that the financial interests pave the way there
for the invasion of the Industrial commercial in
terests.