The Washington herald., 1914-10-11
By John Barrett Director General of the PanAmerfcan

essity Of the avoidance by all men from
the United States, when visiting the
southern countries and peoples, Of an air
Of patronage, or OF suggestion that these
lands are in any way behind the United
States in progress or dependent upon the
United States for their prosperity and de-
velopment- II any such suggestion IL to
be made, II should come from their peo-
pies rather than those Of this country.
Latin America in Nsrth Amer4cS.
In studying Latin-America It also
should be noted at the very outset that
there are signal geographical differences
with corresponding segregation OF inter
ests, Of commerce. and Of opportunities.
The average superficial observer should
not forget that there are ten Latin-Amer-
ican countries which are not in South
America, but practically a portion OF the
North American continent. Mexico, the
five Central American countries Of Guat-
emala, Salvador. Honduras Nicaragua,
and Costa Rica, together with Panama.
Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti
are distinctively, from q geographical
and commercial standpoint, North Amer
lean. The commercial and financial
transactions Of all these ten countries
are greater with the United States than
they are with Europe. In this same group
also could be classed two of the coun-
tries OF the South American continent;
namely, Colombia and Venezuela. Both
Of these countries. for example. exchange
more products with the United States
than they do with any individual Euro
pesn country. In considering. therefore,
the subdivisions Of Latin-America, there
might be placed in one division these
twelve countries just named not only be-
cause of their commercial and financial
relationship, but because OF the fact that
they are nearer by routes Of transporta-
ton to the principal ports Of the Uni
ted States than they are to the principal
commercial entrepots Of Europe. Co
lombia and Venezuela, inesmuch as they
are in South America proper. seem more
remote than they really are. The distance
from the most northern points of those
two countries to Key West is less than
the distance from New York City to
Kansas City.
These lands that border on the Gulf
Of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea present
to the United States vast fields Of COM
mercial and financial activity. Some Of
them have already made remarkable
progress and are conducting q rapidly
growing trade, but the majority Of them
need an abundance Of money to be In
vested in all kinds Of material enter
prises in order that they may enter upon
a great progressive advancement. The
so-called dificulties of revolutions and
Of government must not be-.
exaggerated to the extent that there viii
not be a realization of their enormous
natural resources Although unfortunate
conditions may have obtained, for In
stance, for some time in Mexico and In
one or two Of the Central American and
ether Caribbean lands, 1t 10 the frm be-
Ia "a - 49, a-9.V -.
field for long years that these unfortunate
conditions are simply the darkness be-
fore the dawn, and that during the next
ten years there is going to be q new ma
terial and commercial era in all Of them
which will astonish the world These
twelve countries represent combined
population of thirty millions, and they
already conduct an annual foreign trade
valued at approximately 5000 900 In
this trade the United States is increas-
ing its transactions much faster than IL
any country of Europe, Notwithstanding
a prevailing impression to the contrary.
It IL, therefore. logical that II these
twelve countries or their contributory
coasts are conducting this foreign buSi-
ness Just as the canal is opening, they
should in another ten years increase IL
to $1,000 10000 and more, with corre-
spending advantage 10 them and the
United StateH-
Inhuence Of the Panama Canal.
The significance and value Of the Pam
anna Canal must always take into con-
sideration these twelve countries, which.
rs 1t were. are on the-=rSx to the canal
Usually In discussing the Panama Canal
there is thought only OF what Il beyond
the canal in the Pacific Ocean II q
bridge IL built across q great river con.
aecting two important cities or localities,
he neighborhood approaching the bridge
benefits and is built up as well as the
beyond IT, The Panama
Canal IL mighty water bridge between
he Atlantic and the Pacific, and It win |
,eneft the Latin-American countries
to the Atlantic Just as much |
Is it viii the Latin-American countries |
tributary to the Pacific Ocean. Already |
'very port of this group Of countries bor- |
iering on the Caribbean and Gulf has !
TO feel the impulse Of the |
lew commerce and travel which the Pan |
una Canal is helping to develop. By the !