Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-11
WANTS TO HANG ON TO TRADE
England Sees the Business that 1t
Has Built Up with South Amer.
ioa Slowly Slipping Away.
GIVES FACTS AND FIGURES

| Correspondence Of the Associated Press)
] LONDON. Dec. 6.-Great Britain has
no Intention OF allowing the United
states TO oust e from first place In trade
with South America, asserts the Daily
Chronicle In n long and earnest discus
sion Of the South American Market"
After noting the relative positions OF
England. Germany and the United states
In South American trade prior TO the
war, tho article warns Its readers that
tho United States has already accomp-
llshCd great deal In it, effort to take
! advantage OF the opening offered &C.
But let Va look for moment at the
assets OF tho British trader in South
America" continues the Chronicle "One
OF his greatest IL his reputation for strict
integrity and scrupulously honorable
dealing. which will stand him IN good
stead in the coming race for trade. IL
must be maintained at all costs South
American people have had experience OF
our methods OF business and OF those OF
the United States. and as a general rule
they prefer our own. II they can do -
they will deal with us
J Another great point In our favor Ia
the remarkable strong position OF our
leading banks. The name OF the Anglo
South American bank. the British bank
OF South American. ana the London and
Brazilian bank are household words In
banking and financial circles all over
the world. Enlightened management and
the growth Of British trades have brought
them prosperity. Then again there Is
/ the Banca Commercials ttaliana. The
entente between British and Italian in
terests in Brazil II OF particular inn
portanoe. owing TO the predominsnce OF
the latter in the South American labor
market,
United States Not slow.
Confederation OF our banking position
naturally leads one 20 speak OF our ship
ping predomlnance Our pre-emnenoe IN
South American trade in the past has
been due in no small degree to the great
development OF our merchant marine.
The United States IL not slow TO APP
preciate the importance OF the banking
and shipping elements. Her banks are
already opening branches IN some Of the
big South American oenters. while her
collossel activity in producing war mu-
nitions and the sale of her foodstuffs
at high prices will enable here for the
first time in her career 70 lend freely
abroad and also to put money into the
development OF her mercantile marine.
Another point in our favor IL the
large amount of British capital already
sunk IN the various South American
countries. This reaches the stupendous
total OF 81, 10000. while our annual trade
in South America, prior TO the war.
touched $3.50. 10000, or one-fourth Of the
total trade OF those countries. Obviously
British companies will. whenever pos
siDle. place their orders IN Great Britain.
But they are not in business for their
health. and our traders must give them
what they want or they will 20 else
whore"
The article goes on with a discussion
of the shortcomings of British trade.
Selling by catalogue IL impossible In
these countries IT declares. and II adds
that there is a lamentable lack OF really
skilled British travellers and agents. II
this respect II urges British traders &c
take q leaf from Germany's handbook
"Gcfmany travellers and agents were
skilled mon. and they spared neither time
nor trouble Good llngu,sts were they
not with a mere smattering OF Spanish
and Portuguese. Nor did the heads OF the
firms in Germany leave everything to
their agents. They were always making
and credit conditions on the spot. Above
ALL they took care to give the importer
what he wanted"
Trade Runa Into Millions.
Turing specifically to the opportunities
in Argentina. the Chronicle asserts that
a great effort is necessary here II Eng
land is to maintain commercial predom-
nance. The last complete years returns
for this republic show that in 1918 TIN
trade was divided as follows:
England. $3.50. 10000; Germany $40
Ooo 900, and the United States, 81. 1900.
In Brazil. the second most important
market, the Chronicle believes that the
clearing of the financial atmosphere
which has come about since the war
opens opportunities for the first nation
on the spot. Chile. the third country In
commercial Importance, IL likely, the
article adds, to show surprising develop
ments during the next few years owing
TO the opening of the Panama canal.
In conclusion. the article quotes from
a British consular report the following
advice 20 would-be traders In South
America:
There are two essential points: First
do not despise small orders; treat the
500 order with the same respect as II
It was for 10000; second, use extreme
caution With quoting prices They should
be the very lowest that your business
can stand. They should be no question
Of how much you can get, but OF how
( much you can sacrifice in order to secure