The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-11

1etgN For New York Times An.
~ Financial section by \. III.
~. the National City Bank
much has been said and written
y the last few years about con.
- In South America, particularly
~ Argentine, and so many siren
efforts have been made in this
nfry by people interested in the
motion OF North American trade in
UeA America. that il might not he
NJ to consider the situation as II
ears with respect TO the success OF
effort to date. and to find out
N our progress has not been greater
Why there is a very decided prob
1xy that our trade advance will be
cked after the close OF the Euro
~ war, when England and Ger
ny. the great trading nations. go
~ into the South American market
n goods manufactured for that
fket, and with an even stronger de-
~ to sell than ever existed before;
~ the manufacturers and merchants
the United States have lost their
UFfunity in South America, Y = "a
and what lesson is to be learned
- this failure
Early Efforts.
VII Is very true that for many years
re have been important manufac-
yang concerns IN the United States
@2ch have had a comfortable and
0ufActcry trade IN South America,
8 this even IN competition with the
wNducts OF England and Germany
II q great portion Of our merchants
- manufacturers. until within a few
IRA. have never considered the Coun-
II south of the Equator as possible
fArkef. except il he for the dumping
materials or goods too inferior in
%nlitv or manufacture for use IN our
D0 country. A strong EFFORT was I'M
n way Just about the time Of the
mkhreak of tho European war to
nfablish active and permanent trade
Nations, and when the war came on
~ the German and English mer~
olants went out Of the markets Of
puth America, those who were pro
Suting the international trade saw
urtunity OF North American goods to
tain a foothold that could not be
Eoken In South America.
The history OF the last two years
= shown conclusEyeiy that this has
IA been successfully accom- piished.
n have increased our trade. but Il
- been more as a result of solictta-
5on on the part II the South Ameri-
III merchant who needed our
f0aucts, rather than because we. az 4
sion. have inteiiigently and with a
nv to permanence gone after thu
9Ade have spoken about this
~ number Of prominent merchants
&he United States, who. ! thought
Rglat 10 be interested in this kind al
fnae. and have been told frequently
III business has lately been so EooC
&fhis country on practically a CAST
isis that il would NOS have paid Il
Hemp to develop South American
&kae
This is. Of course "a shortslghtet
hsicy, for when the war is over aut
III English and German competitor!
S1ne back into South America viii
Ods to sell ana with an anxiety 4
oet their market moro than hal
~ on the question Of terms. etc. IL
Ter to re-establish themselves. tn
uiness that has been forced upon II
krtnE the last two years Will, IN al
mia go back % Europe, AM
nerican trade as n general pr0po
Non. viii not be any further al
need than before this war began
ID the realization OF this possibility
1ag TO the conditions in Europe. /
UH have been a wise thing for thu
lifted States TO have cultivated care
1iy and painstakingly the great feel,
1T was ours for the taking.
Trade On Credit.
mo one In this country expects {
MANUFACTURED or merchant to handle
y entire business with mis- own CAPT.
q. II is quite reasonable to assum.
|<at practically every business hous,
Herates to some extent on credit. Tn,