Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-16

ference held here today. John Barrett.
director general of the Pan-American
Union, said:
Certain new and important facts
which have a direct bearing on the
present nationwide discussion of Pan
American commerce are brought out in
figures just compiled in the Pan-Ameri-
can Union. on account of the delay in
securing the customs house reports of
some of the Latin American countries,
it is now for the first time possible to
give accurate figures of Latin American
commerce with all the world for 1913
and to make final comparison of the
trade of the United States with that of
European countries. All previous statis-
tics published by the Pan-American
Union or other official sources have
necessarily been based on fragmentary
reports Of 1913 and other years. The
conclusions of the compilation are as
follows:
First: Not including European colo
MES of Latin America, the 20 independ-
ent American countries south of the
United States conducted a foreign COM
merce Inc the calendar year of 1913 val
ued at s2.Se4, 6,224. of which their
exports were S1,53s, 123.597, and the i'm
ports s1,325,752.627. This gave bal
ance of s213,37o,s70 in one year in favor
of Latin America, which means much
for her natural development and sug-
gests great capacity for her early re-
cuperation from the stagnating effects
of the European war.
Second: In this trade with all Latin
America the United States, as not gem
orally understood. was a good first. lead
ing the United Kingdom. Germany and
France with large margins The figures
were: United States, sS03. 465.S45; Unit
ed Kingdom. s643. $50, 1856; Germany,
S407,132,S74; France. s23S.s13.453. These
statistics which are most creditable to
a large element of United States ex-
porters and importers will surprise
those who have not appreciated what
the business interests of the United
States have been doing in their COM
MERGE with Latin America and should
encourage those men and firms which
heretofore have ignorantly thought that
there was little opportunity for them
in Latin American trade because of Eu-
ropean competition.
Third: For the first time in the his
tory of Latin American commerce. the
United States in 1913 exported a greater
valuation or products to all Latin Amer
lea than did the United Kingdom. For
many years the United States has i'm
ported more from Latin America than
has the United Kingdom. but 1918 was
the first year in which the United States
nosed ahead of the United Kingdom m
actual sales, and 1t was also far beyond
Germany and France-contrary to gen.
eral opinion. In 1913 the United States
exported to Latin America products
valued at 1925, ss7.s45; the United
Kingdom, s322.22S,073: Germany. s217.-
976,202; and France, $110,4S4.3s5. The
percentages of this remarkable record.
in favor of the United States, were:
United States, 24.59 per cent; United
Kingdom, 24.32 per cent; Germany,
1916 per cent; France. s.34 per cent
In the matter of purchases from Latin
America, the United States Is easily
the best market, the figures being
United States, s477.62s.5o0; United
Kingdom. 1921. s5s,S13; Germany. $780,.
156,172; France. s12s.329,06S. Expressed
in percentages. the record stands
United States. 31.03 per cent: United
Kingdom, 20.Ss per cent; Germany
1922 per cent. France, s.34 per- cent.
Fourth: Although the balance OF
Latin American trade is, according tc
the figures, in favor of Latin America
and against the United States to the
value Of s151,791. 1856, while that of the
United Kingdom and Germany is more
evenly divided. It must be remembered
that this balance against the United
States is largely made up of such arti
cles as coffee, necessary food supply
and other raw products like rubber
hides, ivory nuts, ETC., which. in the
course of being converted into manu-
featured products in industries of tn.
the United States. employ United State:
capital and labor in great quantities anS
hence ultimately in their sale as finished
products make the final balance actu
United States.
Fifth: A comparison of the figures
of Latin American trade of 16 year.
ago. 1897 or the last year. before th'
Cuban or Spanish war, with those O
the year 1913, show what a remarkable
rapidity of growth has characterized
Latin American commerce and point;
conclusively to the potentialities of it:
future. In 1897 the total foreign com
merce of the 20 Latin American coun
tries was valued at s910,422, 49s now /
stands at s2.s64.s76.224. an astonishing
and almost marvellous increase in only
a decade and half of $1,954,453,725
or, approximately, $50 per cent.
New England Opportunity
Now what is New England to do il
the premises?
First Every manufacturer, EXPORTS
and importer of New England, who ha
not already mastered the Latin Ameri
can field, should first familiarize him
self with the data which can be OBJ
| tanned from the Bureau of Foreign ant
Domestic Commerce of the Department
of Commerce and from the Pan Ameri
can Union in Washington. At the sam
! time special attention should be givei
| to what has been done by those organ
| izations. firms and persons which hav
| for many years been working success
! fully in the Latin American field ant
who deserve particular credit for wha
| they have achieved.
! Second: The whole situation mus