Evening star., 1916-05-06

Means whereby closer ties may be es.
tablished between the United States and
the republics OF South America were dis
cussed recently by Senor Don Ignacie
Calderon. the Bolivian minister to the
accorded a reporter for The Star. Warm
words of praise for the efforts of Presi'
dent Wilson toward a united American
continent were expressed by the minister.
Senior Calderon stated at the outset of the
interview that whereas the majority OF
his remarks might be applicable to all the
republics of Latin America, he spoke prin-
cipally Of his own country-Bolivia.
The opening now afforded financiers and
business men of the United States to
strengthen the commercial ties of this
country with it's sister republics and the
important part such ties will play in fu.
tuer relationships on the continent were
discussed by the minister
Tribute to President Wilson.
Senior Calderon said:
President Wilson's earnest and per.
sistent declarations that the United States
will, under all circumstances. respect the
sovereignty of the republics Of South
America has done more than any othei
single feature to insure close ties on the
continent. And a factor which has aided
materially in dispelling the more or less
unfounded mistrust of former years has
been the unanimity with which the press
of this country has backed him in all such
gratifying expressions.
"Pan-Amercanism exists today in yer.
real form There is no dscordant note
All South America is with the United
States in its policy of warning foreign
powers from attempting to obtain terri
tory on the continent. as embodied in the
Monroe doctrine. There is universal recog-
milton of the necessity of cooperative ac-
ton in all matters affecting the genera
solidarity Of the Americas, The southern
republics look to the United States as a
high example, and their admiration in
wolves duty as well as an honor for this
powerful country.
with the coming Of this true spirit OF
pan-Americanism the two big hindrances
to extensive trade between the north and
the south have been removed. These were
high freight rates. caused by the dis
tances involved, and vague, unfounded
doubts which unfortunately existed in the
past. The Panama canal has solved this,
first problem. the arrival of mutual under
standing has effectively stamped out the
second. The way is clear.
Abundant Raw Material.
South America can supply North
America with the raw materials needed
for your great industries. The United
States can supply us with many needed
importations. Capital from your coun-
try can accomplish miracles in Latin
America, to the obvious benefit of all
concerned. But it should always be
borne in mind thtat nations buy where
they sell.
"To think that the financial power
on account of the war. will only be
used to increase the export of goods
against the European competition.
which will soon be keener than ever.
is to look at the wrong way Of cap
turing the markets of South American
countries. They will become by
natural sequence the center of North
American trade by making the south
ern countries the great field of in
vestments of capital. by railroad build
struct works of public utility and the
exploitation of the natural resources
Of each republic. Then the returns of
the capital employed in South America
will bring as a natural result the in
crease of trade. The United States
prosperity fostering trade and in
creased consumption.
Financing Chief Factor.
Enough has been said about the
minor requirements. such as good pack
ing. proper attention to the kind of
goods sent. and so forth Useful as
these things are. they must be con-
sidered only as incidents to the great
and transcendent Influence and power
this country would acquire by its be-
coming the master financial factor in
the economic growth of South America
South America is watered by the
largest rivers, and its water system is
so full of possibilities that at no distant
day, I hope, steamers will be crossing
the very heart of South America, and
continuous fluNal communication will
be established from the mouth of the
Orinoco, in the Caribbean. to Para and
Buenos Aires. by connecting the three
great river systems, the Orinoco, the
Amazon and the Plata. Then the
center of the forestal. mineral and
agricultural wealth of the continent
will be opened.
Railroads are absolutely necessary.
The f1nanciers of this country can ap-
preciate their Importance in new
country by studying the history of the
opening of the great west here. In no
republic in South America would the
construction of the necessary railroads
fail to open a profitable field Of min
ing, agriculture and cattle business.
When ranges are getting SO scarce in
this country. when land is growing in.
value SO enormously. the countries Of
the south are full OF opportunities for
the exploitation Of minerals farming