New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-19
URGES SUBSIDY TO
new TRADE SHIPS
Expansion with Southern
Lands Awaits Boats,
Says O'Brien.
CONGRESS COULD AID
BY MAIL CONTRACTS
Diplomat Declares Obligation
on United States Demands
Immediate Action.

General +. c. O'Brien, formerly
American Minister to Uruguay and
Paraguay, in a statement yesterday
said the daily suggestions as to growth
Of trade between this country and
South America overlooked the para
mount question that the countries Of
the River Plate are passing through
acute depression owing to the absence
of shipping facilities and the diminu-
ton of customs revenues.
European capital has developed these
countries. he said, and, now that the
war makes it impossible for Europe
to reap her reward, America will draw
whatever benefits she may without
having run the risk of pioneer invest
ments. What little has been added in
shipping facilities affects only Brazil;
the boom has not reached the River
Plate.
THE United States is the only coun-
try which is in a position to relieve
the situation" continued General
O'Brien. "If we are sincere in our
protestations of a desire for closer
political and commercial relations with
the Latin republics of America, we
should surely give them some SUB
stantial proofs of our readiness 20
help them in the time of need, apart
from all other considerations.
Victims of Circumstances.
These countries are the victims or
circumstances which they were power
less TO prevent and are unable, alone,
to remedy. IL seems paradoXlcal that
the very countries which have supplied
them with the capital to open up their
abundant sources Of production and
have hitherto furnished the markets
TO- the principal consumption OF their
ploducts and the ships for their trans
portation should have become the
means of creating a serious setback:
"This state of affairs, necessarily
brought about by the war, would APP
near TO be still more paradoXical by
reason of the fact that the CONDITIONS
relating to the purchase OF the south
American products, their marine trans
narration and the marketing IN hu-
rome Of their national securities were
ali taken into account and constituted
the main consideration for the grant
ing of loans and credits.
6With these conditions now entirety
disturbed. the question is how tne
nosition NAV be changed to the ad-
vsntace of the South American repuo..
lies. even if we risk the imputatloh Oh
selfish motives.
Banking and Shipping Needed
"The answer is simple and self-evi-
dent. If our efforts to secure a larger
and proper share in the trade of south
America are not to be rendered futile
we must, at least, be suitably EQUIPPED
with such prime necessities of inter
national trade as banking and shipping
facilities. .-,
"The banking situation is actively IN
course Of solution. and will no doubt
develop in a degree corresponding TO
the increasing needs of commerce. But
we must not forget that the past pros
perity of the larger South American
republics, and with it our own IN
creased trade with them. was entirely
due to the fact that those countries
received exclusive financial support
from European fnanciers, a condition
which has now disappeared. Thus II
e. eseer+inl uror us ~ the sense OF a