The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-07
SHOWS HOW ALLIES
CAN HELP OUR TRADE
w. w. Wick Suggests That Empty
Ships From Europe For South.
America CaIl Here for Cargo.
FREIGHT ALWAYS WAITING
Stream of Vessels Crossing in Bal.
last While Our Goods Are Tied
Up-Chance for Slow Ships,


shipping should be entered into by the
United States, England and France.
providing that ships carrying South
American goods TO Europe should he
sent via New York on the return voy-
age instead Of being returned direct
in ballast. lis the statement made to
q Times reporter by Walker w. VicK,
| former general receiver OF Dominican
customs. and now general manager Of
Ithe Manufacturers Agents company
and the Factory Products Export
corporation of 81 Broadway Mr.
Wick. who has had many years ex-
] perience in business In Central and
South America, points out that Ameri-
can exporters TO those regions are at
| present seriously hampered by the
shortage OF tonnage which is needed
to convey the goods which South
America wants and urgently needs
! Meanwhile. ships which are carry.
| ing Argentine wheat and Brazilian
coffee to Europe to supply the de-
mands OF England and France, are ,
| being sent back to South American
ports in ballast. This. as Mr.. vick
says, means the saving of compare
tiveR little time over voyage which
should take them first to New York
TO be loaded with products at present
rusting on the wharves for lack OF
bottoms. Furthermore. he maintains.
the United States Shipping board
+eould without disregarding the needs
/ OF England and France, arrange a
/ classification OF American and neutral
shipping so that the vessels too slow
/ to have a good chance OF escaping
submarines could be used In the South
American trade and the fast ships all
81 ouped for the transatlantic traffic,
where speed is essential
The personal pronoun has been.
eliminated entirely from the mxjory
problems OF export difficulties said
I Mr. Wick to a Times reporter. I'm the
early stages OF the war the com plaints
made 10 Washington had a personal
note due to each man feeling his own
diffcuities as peculiar and exceptional.
| Int with the continuation of the con-
| f'ict, and the Capitalization Of the ex-
mort problems into certain clear
forms the troubles of one have be-
come the troubles OF all
No Factor of Competition
And the fundamental difficulty
which is now confronting men en-
gagged in Latin American trade Ia this
one of the waste Of shipping While
our own goods cannot get the ships
to transport them, we ree this long.
procession OF sfins returning frnmf
Liverpool and Bordeaux In ballast N
between us and our allies. It seems
that these difficulties could be elimin-
/ ated by an ARA ngenlent which would
levae~ the allies plenty of ships for
their needs. and would enable us TO
meet the requirments of South Ameri-
j ca The factor of possible competi-
ton which would be present II these
vessels were taking exports from
| France and England is not present.
for the boats are going back In bal,
last
As has been enunciated time and
! again In the sessions of the CHAMBER
OF Commerce Of the United States.
as well as in other commercial bodies
! dealing with world trade. we have
now come face 70 face with the. prob
lem; the development of American
: manufactures now brings us face to
face with a production fully 100 per
cent in excess OF our actual demands
This means. IT II means ANYTHING
We must find foreign trade outlet for
20 per cent of our production. or else
shut down our manufactures six
months OF the year, or operate on
half time
Surely the purposes Of democracy
and the sacrifices which the United
states Is gratuitouslv accepting to
make the world free are Of such "a
nature as to indicate to our allies
that equity and Justice demand their
cooperation In this respect IN
/ other words. our friends in Europe.
without loss TO their prestige or com
mercfal purposes after the war. should
enter into a community of action with
us and so reEulate shipping from
European ports destined to south
America that all such bottoms In bal
last should be loaded at America =
ports with commodities so vitality
needed in South America. In this
manner thew would give a whole
hearted indication OF their apprecial
ton of the aims of America In this
war. as well as sympathetic co-opera.
ton with Americas shipping problems
BROUGHT about THROUGH our assistance
to the allies in crushing autocra cv
south America Needs Our Goods,
south America needs our products3
we and the allies need hers Despite
me German influence. which has per.
meated Latin American countries for
YEARS and made itself a f1vture hard ID
dislndre. our sister republics on this
continent are CRYING for American CO.
operation and opening wide the doors
Of opportunity. Cynical ones attri,
butte this entirely to war necessities
Intelligent Americans with the ex|
perience or years in South America
rightly designate II go merely rnneti,
ton of the natural desire and afyecl
non which Is inherent in all Snutl
American countries for the sister, Re
public OF the United States. Truly
war conditiona have accentuated thit
situation. and have crysta llized x az
sire into necessity Neverth c1cxs
as recruit of the war our mafliirac
turers have obtained a perspectfvi
which liz sympathetic and beats Il
unkfon with the business heart n
South America Furthermore TIRE
Years usage OF, for instance, the ted
tile products of this country ma
brought to the realization OF M
South American housewife the fad
that American goods are not dec0rafe|
with hlleE to make them ATTRACTIVE
an are German FOODS but are realI
cotton goods of the value and textur
which appeals to the lover or none
merchandise
For this reason American nnaI.s
facturerS facs conditions - the1 A
FAX N