Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-17
TO DEVELOP TRADE
IN SOUTH AMERICA
Corps of Trained Experts to
Tour in Interest of U. S.
Business Men.
WILL MAKE INQUIRIES
ALONG SPECIAL LINES
Also Expected to Take Up General
Condition-To Report Through
Federal Bureau.

Within a few weeks there will 70 out
! from this country a large corps Of trade
experts who will tour South America in
an effort to develop markets for bust
| ness men in the United States who are
waiting to expand their business and to
get some of the trade which formerly
went to the countries now at war
The selections of these special agents
now are going on. They will investigate
in the South American countries, as spe-
cial agents Of the bureau Of foreign and
domestic commerce of the Department OF
Commerce, opportunities for advance
ment of special lines. They all will be
selected for their expert knowledge of
the special line of industry which they
will study.
Although they will be assigned to
special Investigations, they also will be
expected to keep the American business
men at home closely informed. through
the bureau Of foreign and domestic COM
merce, Of the general opportunities for
trade expension in the South American
countries.
up are construction materials, glass and
glassware. jewelry and silverware, rail-
road supplies. automobiles. paper and
stationery. office appliances and furni-
In the Field for Two Years.
Each Of these investigators will be in
the field for about two years. making
periodical reports to Washington of the
opportunities for trade expansion. They
will be constantly on the move. only
stopping long enough in one place to as
certain what prospects there are for
United States exporters to gain trade.
There are already at work two
special agents. one developing the
South American market in shoes and
another electrical wares. Another spe-
cial agent, Walter Fischer. has just re-
turned to the department. and Is writ
ing a report on the opportunities for
expanding the market for fresh fruits
and nuts.
Mr.. FISCHER said trade conditions in
South America are booming. and that
agents of firms in the United States
may be found everywhere. There he
found some complaint OF the American
methods. on account Of misrepresenta-
ton. He cited the case Of an American
Arm which contracted to send a supply
of apples to a South American importer.
promising frft,grade sto st;, The ths Pun ,oT
price quoted for the article. but upon
arrival Of the shipment he was much
disappointed because he found it was
third-grade fruit.
Detrimental to Trade.
Acts such as these on the part of the
American exporters will do moro than
anything else to kill opportunities for
Americans to expand their trade. This
act will do much to kill opportunities
for those American firms which fill
their contracts according to specifca-
tions. according to Mr.. Fischer. The
importer there he said. is therefore at
the mercy of the exporter in America.
Many of the American Arms are at
tempting to do business on cash basis.
he said, but the South Americans are
not used to this and Will not deal on
to 1t. and they will place their trade
where they can get sufficient credit
Any exporter who Is not prepared TO
allow at least ten days credit, counted
shipment at its point Of destination. he
said. will not find ready market 1or
his products.
was the high prices now being charged
for the American products. The goods
are being offered in South America at
the same price now asked In this coun-
try, which is looked upon as an m
6ated price owing to the war. Ship
ping also is having its effect In put
ting up the price to the South Ameri-
can merchant.
Effect of Blockade.
German commission houses in South
America having been cut off from get
ting their goods from the home coun-
try or the central powers because of
the blockade were also unable to pur-
chase their stocks from the commits
sion merchants Of the allied powers.
The latter merchants are unable to sell
to the Germans because they would be
heavily fined by their native govern