Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06

those of Great Britain. nor is II wise
to make sweeping assumption that the
the whole trade. Yet there are very
few commodities which Europe has
been in the habit of supplying that
cannot be supplied by this country
America approximately s15o.ooo.ooo
merchandise. Some of this trade is
already so completely in its control
that heavy increase cannot be ex-
pected. Mineral oils furnish one Of the
leading commodities. and this trade
10 SO well in hand that the only benefit
or tho European war will be In re-
strfctfng competition that was looming
up.
Tho sale of agricultural implements
Is capable Of increase, yet not much
OF this viii be at the expense of Zero
pean rivals. Germany is barely in the
field at all, and England only with Ger
chinery.
Packing house products and m,scel-
ianeou1 foodstuffs arc also largely
In the hands of Americans The gain
In this direction will como from the in
ability of Europe to supply the high
grade canned gods and delicacies
The main opportunity for charging
the market of the United States will be
IN machinery. IN all forms of iron ana
steel products, in electrical apparatus
and IN railway material
Lumber already is largely supplIed
from the United States, but there Will,
be a wider market for furniture. since
Austria is shut OFF. as we'll as Ger
many
The great industrial ORGANIZATIONS
OF the United States, such as the
Standard OIL the Singer Sewing Ma
chine Company, the United States Steel
SoIporation. the typewriting and office
appliance companies have their bust
ness SO well organized that thew are
able to take immediate advantage Of
the war situation.
advantage to the smaller manufac-
turerS Is that the big concerns have
piazed the path for them that thew
too, should be able to improve the on
portunity to place their products. They
WI, VIII never do it. however. without
Quirements and the local peculiarities
OF the different markets
Inc state department and the De-
partment OF Commerce have accumu-
lated such ample information on AIN
these subjects that there Is No eYcusa
Tor an American manufacturer start
Ing out for South American trade NOT
knowing all about what is necessary
In order to get it.
American banks in South Amer,co 10
a problem now being solved by the es-
adjustment of branch banks. some
OF the largest export concerns have
peen indinerent on this point, and have
maintained that the banks were not
necessary for the extension of Amer
lean trade. But the smaller manu-
tacturers and exporters are not of this
opinion. and hereafter they will have
the incentive which comes from the
presence of financial institutions with
which they can get in touch at home.
American banks also may help in
the matter of determining credits Of
prospective customers, although a lead
Ing American mercantile agency is al
ready established in the principal
South American cities.
Banks and mercantile agencies can
not, however, change one cardinal fea-
ture of South American trade. This
is longtime credits With better means
OF Information. and with greater ia
cilities for intercourse. the American
mise on this point.
Most Americans want to see the ex-
listing trade OF the United States with
South America and the prospective
trade carried on in American bottoms.
In this matter it is necessary to cor.
rect an error which exists in many
quarters. When provision was made in
the last tariff bill for giving a draw
back of per cent on customs dues
on goods imported in American bot
toms some people thought that this
would stimulate trade with South
America.
1t cannot do so for a very simple
reason. Substantially all the products
of South American countries are ad-
mitted into the United States free of
duty. The fraction Of per cent
dutiable is so small that it might
be said that 100 per cent of the ar
ticles are free. Since, therefore, there
is practically no South American duti-
able list in the United States tariff Il
is not possible to subtract per cent
from nothing.
The effect of the recent legislation
Of Congress in providing for the reg
istry of foreign-built vessels, which
have been bought by citizens of the
United States, cannot yet be judged,
but 1t ought to help in increasing
trade with South America by provid-
ing American bottoms in which TO
carry the commodities which consti-
tute the s2.00O,000.O00 commerce that
Is dislocated by the war.
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