The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-26

Amertca, the country would nave no
vessels
freight: me possibility % the exist
ence Of such q deadlock Was not re-
garded seriously az the time, but the
notices issuedsby Mr.: =. >. Keena, p:
s. Consul General.i in Buenos Aires, dur
ling the last few days, emphasized the
fact that America has awakened to the
urgent necessity for a mercantile ma
Irine of her own. German shipping
no longer provides the States with
large volumes Of cargo space; French,
British and italian steamers do not ply
with the regularity which character
ICED their movements in previous war
days; and, as a result, the import and
export trade OF the American continent
has been, to som extent, disorganized.
That such a situation could be allowed
to continue for any length OF time was
tnconceivable, mad no surprise was OIL
casIoned when it was announced that
the department Of state at Washington
had undertaken to provide steamship
accommodation for all cargoes for
which foreign vessels could not be
found. {
Necessarily, the news was received
with mixed feelings by the British com.
mercial community; however, the sub
sequent announcement that the United
States Consuls at Buenos Aires and
Montevidco had convened meetings Of
American commercial men TO discuss
means of developing trade with the
Southern Continent has had a still fur
ther d%isquieting effect. The gravity of
the situation from the point Of view Of
European business men need not be en-
phasizcd; it Is obvious to all. Most Of
us realize that while Europe is com.
posed almost entirely Of warning ma
tions, the possibilities for commercial
development afforded to countries at
peace are immense. Fifty years, or
more, ago, a general coniagration In
Europe could have had no effect on the
Western Hemisphere other than a det-
rimental one; trade and commerce be-
longed essentially to Europe alone. To-
day that is all changed. The United
States is outside the area of conflict;
she is able to survey calmly the spec
tacle of her trade rivals using the
whole of their resources in the further
ance of naval and military campaigns;
and, inevitably, she is free to step in
and seize the opportunities that her
commercial foes are compelled to neg
lect.
Tie meetings convened by the Amer
lean consuls in the capitals of Argen-
tina and Uruguay are but the prelim'
%inaries to a great commercial cam
paign, the success of which appears to
be assured. Whether or not the COM
mercial houses Of the United States
will be able to maintain the place that
must necessarily become their during
tho progress of the European wur. is
a matter for conjecture; but expert
ence of the virility which has charac-
terized North American tomnerre, i'm
pels one to the conclusion that the
business relations Of the two Americas
are about to be SO consolidated that
the European nations will not, In the
future. occupy in the Southern Cont
ncnt the pre.eminent position that they
have held SO long.
To what extent the European war
will influence the United States In the
direction OF establishing II mercantile
marine for the carrying OF her overseas
trade is a point on which it is difficult
10 docmattze. The citizens OF the
Northern Republic are not a nautical
race; moreover, the cost Of 'htpbul1d-
Ing N the States is almost prnhibitive.
One way out of the difficulty would be
to purchase vessels nj Europe, but the
suggestion that that should be done at
the present moment has been received
with indignation by the Triple Entente,
and, as a mater of fact, there seems
to be justification for tho objections
raised. The outstanding truth today,
however, is tallt the United states can
never again allow her commercial oper-
atoms to become dependent on the
maintenance Of peace in Europe. at
the moment the sole guarantee North
America has that her goods shall be
carried to and from the distant coun-
tries of the earth is that Britain pos
sesses the command of tho seq. Were
there less disproportion between the
strengths of the German and British
fleets, overseas trade would be practt-
cally at a standstill. For the United
States to risk being acectcd by sue a
situation in the future would be sui
cidal. That she Is not prepared to take
that risk is emphasized by the state
departments announcement. Indeed,
o nevery hand, there is complete evil
dence that America is preparing to
take a bold lead. Europe's madness
is her opportuntty.-Bueno Aires Her
aid.