New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-15

the incorrect statements current in a section OF
the press and the numerous claims put forward
for the credit of having secured the business for
this country calculated to produce the exactly
opposite effects to those evidently intended. While
it is always indiscreet 10 boast of cleverness IN
carrying out a commercial transaction, especially
where the other party thereto has sensitive
temperament, it may be frankly stated that prac-
ticaly all the cleverness exhibited in the making
of the contract for the building Of these ships
is to the exclusive credit of the Argentine govern
ment officials who secured, above stated, excep-
tional advantages.
The first step taken TO obtain the order for the
American yards was in 1908, when the then Amer
lean Minister to the Argentine Republic, Spen-
Ger Eddy made overtures 20 that countrys Min
lister of Foreign Affairs. When IL became known
here through official sources and through a cable
from Buenos Ayres to The Associated Press that
the United States would be included in the sched-
ue of countries to be permitted 20 tender for the
construction, representatives of the American
steel and shipbuilding industries waited on the
government at Washington to invoke official in
huence TO help them to secure the contract. In
the face of the paralysis Of the shipbudng trade
and the conditions of labor prevailing at that
time, the government later agreed that in the
the building of the ships in this country II would
communicate certain naval plans OF Importance
to the Argentine authorities and would permit
Argentine naval officers to train on American war
ships Subsequently, a retired admiral OF the
United States Navy, acting on behalf of the build
ers proceeded to Buenos Ayres and as a result Of
the negotiations then entered into and the very
low figure to which the estimate Of cost was
ultimately reduced together with the concessions
referred to, the contracts were given TO the two
American companies Whatever further negota-
tons took place were of purely secondary inn
portance, the only parties entitled to credit for
Wrestling the contract from Europe being the
United States government and the shipbuilding
companies who made great sacrifices to secure
the business for this country
The narration Of these facts is closely pertinent
to the subject under review, and if it serves TO
suppress the idle and mischieyous stories that
either this that secured these contracts
for the American people, it will remove one OF
the most dangerous elements in the campaign for
extended South American commerce
II is not by such matters instruction in the
art of packing parcels and cases, or in pretentous
claims to commercial superiority, or by elaborate
printing, eloquent speeches or political refer
ences that the trade with South America will ever
be increased. The methods of common sense and
practical business can alone form the foundation
upon which business is 20 be built up Personal
representation. suitable articles properly demon
strated the right prices, liberal credit and hon
esty in dealing are primory conditions 20 an I'M
portant accession of trade with the South Amer-
can republics.