The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-11-17
EUROPE TO DISPUTE
U. 5. TRADE LEAD
SOUTH AMERICA WILL BE MER-
CHANTS BATTLE GROUND
AFTER WAR.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Nov.1.--
American business men here who re-
Gently formed a strong Chamber OF
Commerce for the purpose of devel-
oping the large share of the trade
which the war in Europe has thrown
from their Old Continent rivals into
their hands. were cha grined at the APP
pearance OF large advertisement
in one of the principal journals Of
this city few days ego which caus-
ed much merriment IN the CONNER
cial circles of their English. French,
German. Italian, Portuguese and
Dutch rivals.
The advertisement was a large
display telling in detail of the mer-
: its of well-known make of Ameri-
can automobile. Ii wHs set forth in
correct Portuguese, the language Of
the eountry. and would have been
good trede-puller but for the last
line which read; Agent for Brazil,
Mr.. A. Blank, Quito, Ecuador"
On the maps the straight-line dis
iissnce between Rio de Janeiro and
Quito has not much more than the
appearance of a good broad jump;
on the trade routes over which let
ter must journey between these two
points the distance is approximately
5000 miles each way. Calculating
on reasonably, close rail and steam
ship connections four months would
elapse between the time the pros
pective Brazilian buyer posted and
received reply for an order or in
quiry. European competitors with
agents and displays on the spot would
enjoy a most obvious advantage.
Distances Are Great.
Distances in South America are
great and are seldom realized by the
North American who is much more
used to vast strstehes than is his
European rival. In the case of the
letter cited above. it would have 10
go from Rio de JaneSTo 10 New York
by steamer, a distance of 4,770 miles.
thence 1872 miles southwark to
Colon, ffty miles across the Canal
Zone, SS5 miles down the west coast
of South America to Guayaquil Ec-
,,adof. and Gnaliy 21O miles Inland
to the high plateau city OF Quito. TIE
return trip would 10 ever the same
! route. for mails are not carried south
ward 10 euenos Aires and over the
Andes for this part of the continent,
and, even IL they were, the distances
still would be so great as to make
J the American automobile advertiser
proposition ridiculous,
There are evidences everywhere
here that the English, German,
French, Spanish and Portuguese mer-
chants mean to fight hard to dispute
the lead recently acquired by the
North American in the field of Bra
lillian trade. For some years prior
TO the war the United States occu-
pied third position as supplier OF
merchandise to the BraZilians. Dur
ing the first year of the conflict the
northern republic crypt TO second
place and at the termination of the
second year II had a good lead, which
it has ever since maintained. When
trade conditions are re-established,
competition will be keener and es-
tablishing agencies in the plateau
region of the Andes for sale of com
lmodities in Rio de Janeiro, which is
as if an English firm would advertise
the sale of commodity in New
York paper and refer inquiries to its
agency in Sitka, Alaska-will not
help American exporters TO maintain
supremacy.
Would Break e. S. Hold.
To break the hold which the Unit
ed States has slowly acquired and
to ro-establish pre-war conditions Of
supremacy, viii be the inheXible aim
OF the English, French ana German
merchants. No influence, however
subtle, is being overlooked TO sfy
the Brazilian Government and PEG
pie. Wrong interpretations of the
Monroe Doctrine, willfully misleading
articles which appear frequently in
the press as to the attitude of the
United States and its people on the
European war and other tactics OF
a like nature are part Of the cum
ming campaign to discredit the north
ern trader.
The more open campaign consists
in the Strengthening of the position
of supremacy long held by the Euro
pean nations in the matter of trans
portation, communication and bank
ing facilities. Here, the Amer
l.. L., Al. honJfoa mit d