Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-22

Aires the German commercial influence 1.
very strong. although. taken as whole.
Germany's percentage of the total com
merce is not excessive. The same con-
dition exists in Brazil. Notwithstanding
that Hamburg takes a good share Of the
Brazilian coffee crop
The German colonies in South America
partake Of the characteristics of Ger
OF minding their own business and Of not
NEEDING IN the domestic politics of the
different countries Always they are
with the government that is in power
1t has been observed that larger pro-
portion of Germans marrv South Ameri-
can women than do other foreigners.
They settle into their environment con-
tentedly.
The German language everywhere is
maintained even after the first genera
ton. Away up in the Andes in Peru a
German colony was established fifty yeas
ago 1t did not succeed. and It's members
scattered. but the Quichua Indians from
that locality speak their own native IAN
guage with a German accent
A German colony which was established
at Valdivia. In southern Chile has spread
out its roots. and now embraces Con-
cepcion and other prosperous towns
In Buenos Aires the German community
is 80 large as to have not only its own
vereins and similar clubs and societies.
but also churches and schools The Ger
man colony in southern Brazil has been
SO often described that barely word
need be said of il. 1t is more isolated
and less In touch with modern Germany
than any German community in South
America.
One difference between Germans In
South America and Germans in the Unit
ed States is to be noted. In South Ameri-
ca no trouble seems to be experienced
In keeping the language. The younger
generation learns Spanish as a matter
Of course, but the unwillingness of the
children to hold To the language OF the
fatherland. which was so much deplored
by the elder generation of Germans in
the United States, does not exist In
South America. The language OF the
fatherland Is first, and the language of
the country second.
This preservation Of the language keeps
up current Of sympathy with the over
seas Germany and undoubtedly will be
beneficial TO the kaiser's purpose Of slim
ulating German sentiment through South
America among those Of German birth or
parentage,Swhile at the same time i'm
pressing the South American countries
with the greatness OF Germany.
3
Whether the visit Of Prince and
Princess Henry, the later trip of Ger
man agriculturfsts and the cruise of the
dreadnoughts will have an influence
harmful to the United States is question
able. These visits are not undertaken
for that purpose and the United States
cannot complain of any European coun-
try which seeks to strengthen its pres
tige and add to its commerce In South
America. All countries are supposed to
encourage expeditions of this kind with
out unfriendly anirnus toward competitive
countries. Yet. in view of the wide
spread South American distrust over our
Mexican policy and the disposition Of
European nations to profit commercially
and politi ally by our neighborhood wor-
ries, it need not be surprising If an ele-
ment of anti-Americanism creeps into
the German propaganda. This will not
be because Berlin wants 1t so. but be-
cause commercial Germany In South
America wants the United States to keep
out and leave the trade to European
countries, and especially to Germany.
Fine men as the Germans in South
America are individually, and personally
friendly as many of them are to the
United States yet they resent our efforts
to increase our trade. They are no worse
than the English in this respect, and
some of them even advocate an Anglo.
German coalition against North Ameris
can trade and enterprise. Nothing win
come of the proposed coalition. but ii
has to be kept in mind that European
countries doing business in South Ameri-
ca are not international philanthropists.
Germany In South America, like England
in South America, does not like the
spread Of Yankee influence and enter
prise, and some manifestations Of this
feeling are likely to occur.
CHARLES NJ PEPPER.