The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-10
Enormous Commercial OppOr.
tunity Is Apparent.
q. 8. VIII Replace Europe in
South American Trade.
AVERT FINANCIAL CRISIS
Southland Business Interests
May Be Relieved Here.
Impossible Now to Float Big
Loans in Europe.

Washington, Aug. 1O.-With the
ports of Europe blockaded, an enor-
nous opportunity for the commerce
of the United States appears to have
been opened in South America.
In a timely BULLETIN from the Pam
American Union the following statis-
tics appear:
"Au South America is an enormous
purchaser of manufactured products
Of Europe. A large portion of this
supply will be shut off during the next
six months, and possibly during the
next year or two, If the war continues.
LAS many South American coun-
tries depend largely upon Europe for
their absolute necessities and major
part of these orders are placed but a
short time ahead because Of the ex-
cellence of the regular shipping facili-
ties, they are now face to face with an
immediate famine in the articles
which they most generally import.
According to the latest available
figures collected in the Pan-American
Union, the ten South American coun-
tries-Argentine, Bolivia, Brazil Chile,
Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay. Peru,
Uruguay and Overwhelmingly I'M
port products valued at $4,000, 900.
"Of this there comes from Europe
products valued close to $3.50, 900, 900.
IF the United States manufacturers
and exporters will exert every: effort
to supply this emergency demand
without increase of prices or unneces-
sary delay, they will accomplish great
permanent good for themselves and
the South American business interests
alike
The same compilation of figures
shows that South America annually
exports to foreign countries products
valued at approximately SLIT 00,-
900. OF this total nearly 100000 900
goes to Europe.
Reason for Markets.
with therefore their markets for
their raw material temporarily closed
against tn m, these ten countries are
looking for a place to dispose of their
accommodating stores, and If the i'm
porting interests Of the United States,
including the manufacturers of raw
material. can relieve the situation by
increasing their purchases, they may
save the South American business in
terests from a financial crisis.
AS nearly 80 per cent of the ex-
ports and imports of these South
American countries are carried in
German, British and other European
bottoms. which are now withdrawn
from the sea, all of their principal
ports, like Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo
Buenos Ayres. Valparaiso. Callao and
La Guayra, are in state equal to
that Of formal blockade.
I'm this sis, it is to be sincerely
hoped that the bill now being passed
by the United States congress may be
of great assistance in relieving the
situation. That, however, can Lnly
point cat the way.
Just as war was declared. several
OF the principal countries in South
America were giving loans in the
Europe financial capitals.
For the present. and probably fo1
a long period it will be impossible to
float such loans in Europe.
BY endeavoring to help out these
governments in this crisis they cannot
fail to perform not only great service
TO such g. ernments. but place them
selves in a favorable position to OBJ
tain other loans in the future and
favorable consideration from the gov.
ernments concerned"