Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-04

of, and this commerce is likely to de-
velop since the Argentine corn is wanted
in the United States for glucose and
similar commodities.
With the markets of the United States
free to Argentine products. it is never
theless recognized here that the balance
of trade will continue largely in the
favor of the United States. Public men
here however, are quite content that
this should be so. What they look for
ward to with satisfaction is that these
currents of commerce will further pro-
mote the intercourse between the two
countries on which they lay stress as
a means of establishing friendlier poiti-
cal relations.
The past relations between the
United States and Argentina have been
uniformly SO good that it is not easy
to understand the Argentine attitude
except on account of wounded national
pride caused by ignorance in the
United States. There have been few
causes of friction or irritating claims.
A good many years ago American
whalers in the Falkland Islands left.
and the United States government did
nothing to controvert the British SOW
ereignty there. In vague way Ar
gentina. which still refuses to recog-
niZe the Falklands as British terri
tory. held the United States RESPONSE
BILE but that incident is not within the
memory of the present generation.
Occasionally Il question of COMPETE
ton in commerce has come up. Three
or four years ago, when the millers of
the United States were in danger of
losing the flour market of Brazil, Sec
rotary Knox induced the Brazilian gov
ernment to increase the tariff prefer
ence on American flour from 20 per
cent to so per cent a barrel. This was
a very small return on the part of
Brazil for the very liberal tariff treat
ment given by the United States to its
coffee and other products. The Ar
gentine millers, notwithstanding their
geographical advantage, raised a
strong cutlery and pressed their gov
ernment to take some action which
would cause Brazil to revoke the pref
erence given to the United States. Some
very unpleasant and, untrue things
were said about the United States hav-
ing coerced Brazil. The Argentine
proper diplomatic channels in behalf of
its flour millers. and there the matter
rested and still rests. The discussion
no ill feeling between the two
governments.
One continuing source of regret to
the Argentine government and the
Argentine people has been the failure
of their efforts to be represented in
Washington, and to nave the United
States represented in Argentina by an
Brazil is the only South
American country which has this honor.
The reasons why the United States has
not been willing to establish an en-
bassy in Buenos Aires are perfectly
well understood. If the Argentine Re-
public should have an ambassador from
the United States, at least one other
South American country would also
want the same honor, and in the end
nearly all South American countries
would want to be raised to the am
rank. This does not make
the situation any less annoying to
Argentina, but it explains why the
United States in holding back has no
purpose of discrimination. The situa-
ton, nevertheless, is one that before
long may have to be met. 1 have heard
the suggestion here that the Argentine
in view of the position
which 1T feels that the country should
occupy in Washington, may take the
initiative and send an ambassador, re-
CARELESS of the failure of Congress to
make provision for an ambassador in
Buenos Aires.
This suggestion would hardly be car
ried out in view of the embarrassment
1t would cause in Washington. but 1t is a
sign Of the growing feeling of national
dignity,
to the reasons for wanting to get closer
to- the United States. but the purpose
although vague Is manifest. It 10 to