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

with South America, but undoubtedly
| the strongest factor Ia service If we
can study their needs and make goods
that they want ana not try to sell
them something that we think they
ought to have. il will in all liability
go n long way TO establishing a SER
vice that will he successful. The Ques-
ton Of credit is not the bugaboo that
IL has seemed to he so often In the
past. for with the institution OF North
American hanks in so many of the
prominent capitals of South America,
the difficulties along this line are
largely eliminated.
Information.
As an excuse for our inactivity we
cannot plead ignorance of conditions,
for there have been volumes issued on
the subject from both governmental
and private sources Many investiga-
lions have been made, commissions Of
all kinds have visited South America,
and reports have been made. We are
Informed on the subject, and our In
formation as a whole is accurate and
useful South American governments.
commercial societies, and individuals
have been exceedingly anxious to pro-
mulgate business relations with the
United States. They have furnished
us with Information. many times wt.h-
assisted our Investigations; thoy have
entertained our commissions pains
takinEly and deliberately, and they feel
that by this time We ought to know
them well enough to trust them a
little bit in fact. We have made so
many Investigations. inspections. and
inquiries that our South American
friends are beginning to get Just n
little bit tired OF it. =.
This was evidenced by very prom
inent newspaper in one OF the largest
capitals OF South America which dur
ing the last year treated OF an ex-
pected visit from a commission from
the United States in an article headed.
What, Another One!" 1t Is quite
time. IL we ever expect to be anything
or get anywhere with our intelligent
friends in South America. that we stop
so much talking and writing about the
subject and get down to real business,
which they are just as anxious and as
competent to do as we are.
Promoting Development.
Our financial interests II they Sc"
sire to promote South American trode.
must learn to interest themselves in
the Industrial propositions of the
country. Practically all Of their pub
lie utilities are owned by foreign CAPT
tai. The manager OF one of the most
prominent European banks located in
Buenos Aires said to me few months
ago: Your people in the States Will
never get anywhere In this country
until they show n desire to do as the
European countries have done In the
way of investing In local public utiii-
ties OF an important and usually pro-
ductive character. Europe has shown
her good faith by Investing very
largely In these things, and in this
way has become n friend ana pro-
moter of South American interests"
The tremendous wealth of this COM
try at this time should force US to
realize our responsibilities; we must
take our place in the trade Of the
world. and when the European nations
again come into their own in this re-
spect and our ability to cell them
goods is curtalled. as II surely will be,
we Will then realize the tremendous
! need for some other market, and we
will look longingly and respectfully to
/ South American nations, who looked
to us for assistance in their hour Of
/ need and whose call has been almost
entirely neglected.