Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-06
GERMANY LOSS
NAY Be OUR GAIN
LOSE GROWING TRADE WITH
SOUTH AMERICA.
DEFEAT OF NAVY AT SEA
FoREcAsTED BY WISE ONES
Great Britain Probably Will Retain
Large Share Of Commerce With
Latin America-openins Of Panama
Canal Ought to Aid United States
Might INVOLVE Us in Trouble.
1sneciai corresponaence. ]

Washington. Aug. 6.-A big increase
in United States trade with South
America and Latin American generally
because of the European war Is fore
seen by officials and members Of con-
gress who are giving keen thought
to the economic effects of the inter-
national upheaval on the other side OF
the Atlantic.
Much regret is expressed that the
conditions in Mexico are unsettled and
the internal strife there not Yet COM
posed. If it were composed, there is no
question that now would be the time
for Ameriyan trade to he built up
there.
The European investments in South
America are, of course, incomparably
heavier than the investments of citi-
zens of this country. England has
enormous investments and heavy
trade there. Germany for some years
past has invested largely in South
/ America and has sold enormous guam
titles of goods there. one of the causes
! OF the present situation in Europe ID
I the keen rivalry and competition
among the Germans and English for
( trade in South America, as well as
other parts of the world Germans
have coionized largely in South Amer
ica. especially in Brazil. Steamer
routes and shipping facilities betweSi
South America and Europe have been
in favor OF the building up of trade be-
tween those two parts of the world and
not in favor of the development of
/ American trade in that direction.
! Situation Now Changed.
/ But now. the situation is changed
Rather. it would De changed if there
Ecouid De any certainty that the United
States could provide the shipping to
/ carry good< and provisions to and fro
! between this country and the Latin
I republics TO the south. The passage
Of the Weeks bill. which was put thru
( the senate Monday and sent to the
house. will add TO the facilities for
trade but it is recognized that il is only
Il step in the direction needed
The paper strength of the English
[, navy plus the French and Russian
/; makes ii seem reasonably sure that the
German navy Will be overma tched IL
/ the three rations of the triple entente
fight Germany. That would point to
English mastery of the sea and the
continued acticiiy Of the English mer-
chant marine. While the war con-
+; tinues, IL thu English mercha mt marine
I plies the seas, there Will De plenty Of
trade between England and South
! America German trade. presumably
! would be cut off. The void thus left
as generally viewed by students of the
situation here ought TO be filled By
American products.
Canal as an Aid.
1 The opening of the Panama cana
would be of assistance in building VI
South American trade in this worlt
crisis. on the other hand. it is pointed
out in some quarters tina. the canal
il opened now. might present som,
knotty problems and might get thi!
country into complications with some
of the belligerents. While this i.
obviously true, public sentiment in thi
lay in opening it.
The varieties of ways in which tn,
European war will affect and incon
venience America are hardly as We
conceived of. in the opinion Of compe
tent students of the subject. For in
stance, prominent member of con
gress. who knows all the ms and out
of the cotton manufacturing business
pointed out that American cotton mill
would be hampered because of lack O
dyestuffs. He said Germany made tn
dyes used by American cotton mills
. that this country had not developed tn
art. and that if the war went on Ions
American cotton mills could not tur
out dyed cotton fabrics except in
! limited way.