The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-04
CONSULS MEET TO HELP TRADE.
Characterize Condition. In south
America ss Much Disturbed.

! Consuls In New York representing the
South American countries held n meeting
In the rooms OF the Pan American States
Association In the Hotel McAipin yes
terday afternoon 10 discuss means OF bet
tering the commercial relations between
their countries and the United States In
their discussion the Consuls admitted that
the United states could not buy all the
products that hitherto had been shipped
from these countries to the European
countries. but they expressed the belief
that the trade between this country and
South America could be greatly developed
to the profit OF both sections
Manuel Gonzales OF Costa Rica was Sc
lected as chairman Of the meeting AMI
Browne Willis "a acting secretary. No
defnite conclusions were reached at tho
meeting yesterday hut the plan Is for 4
committee to take up the matter with
the Chamber of Commerce. the Merchants
Association. bankers and others.
After the meeting n statement was
d Issued In behalf Of the Consuls in which
their view OF the situation In South
America caused 10y the war was set forth.
The statement said that the conditions
! In the South American countries were
much disturbed.
1T is true" said the statement. shat
Argentina and Brazil. and maybe Vene-
zuela, do not feel the effect Of the Euro
pean war to any appreciate extent. tho
TWO FORMER bAlng themselves powers
among powers and the latter maintaining
a very active commerce with the Tinted
States. But the rest OF the Spanish
American countries. and especially the
lesser ones, have been very hard hit.
The Spanish American countries
chiefly have a tariff FOR revenue system
of duties on import and In some cases
on export Practically without exception
these countries trade with Europe. and
10y Europe we mean the nations now at
war The revenues accruing from tue
import and export tax suddenly ind
themselves curtailcd to n very material
extent through the inability OF the war
ring nations TO supply their demand for
import and to accept exports These
Spanish American countries now natu-
rally turn to the United States as n base
OF supply. also ~ a distributing centre:
but they find themselves absolutely devoid
Of a means TO accomplish their purposes.
First having had no prior commercial
Intercourse with the United States in a
general way the American manufacturer
j. completely unprepared TO mect the sud
den demand now forced upon him. and on
the other hand. by the same token, the
American manufacturer, ignorant OF
trade conditions In the Spanish Amer'-
can countries. Is unable to extend facill-
ties and credits on any kind OF safe basis,
even n he were able to supply the de.
mand for his wares.
Second, the failure Of the European
countries TO absorb their usual quota OF
Spanish American products cannot be Off
set by dlverting these same products
through the United States; the United
states will continue TO consume its regu-
lar share OF Spanish American goods ana
nayb. a trine more. Rut Il could not
very well he expected that the United
states should absorb the total Spanish
american output
Therefore IL will readily become evil
dent to everybody that the spanish
American situation ms now confronting
1 these countries Is indeed a gloomy one"