Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-22
BY CHARLES M. PEPPEE.

~ OSTA RIGA is at outs with the
N United States. The conse-
" a quences are not likely to be
serious for the United States. or
even for Costa Rica, but the situation
excites interest In Latin Aperican cir
cles
The special envoy of the de facto
government left Washington a fort
night ago. after unavailing efforts to
secure recognition for the Tinoco ad-
ministration. In leaving he said I'M
complimentary things. He did no1
however. threaten that Costa Rica
would ally herself with Germany. The
only suggestion was that there might
be break in the Central American con-
cert Of action against Germany. This
is the one subject in which there has
been anything approaching concord in
Central America.
Costa Rica Is now enjoying unusual
prosperity. During the first year after
the war. like all the neighboring coun-
tries, she suffered depression due to the
interference with her European coffee
market and the general dislocation of
changed until the products of the va
rious countries. which previously had
gone to Germany were absorbed by
the United States or by the entente
allies, who were able to keep their
trade going.
Costa Rica's record year. which was
last year, shows total foreign trade
approxinating s1s,O0G.000. The exports
were In excess of s11, 100000, which was
greater by 100000 than ever before.
There was also the comfortable balance
of trade of $4.500,000, which not only
enabled payments on obligations held
abroad to be made, but also allowed
large surplus for general purchases.
The two principal export products of
Costa Rica are bananas and coffee.
Each approximates 100000. Last
year the banana exports exceeded the
coffee by about 100000 The banana
trade is principally with the United
States, while in peace times the coffee
trade is chiefly with Europe.
The mineral exports are Of some
value consisting mostly of the output
of the gold and silver mines, and
amounting to more than 81 900 900 an
nually.
Costa Rica has other mineral re-
sources which are looked upon as as
sets of the future. There have been
extensive explorations for petroleum.
and. while many of the supposed oil
gave excellent prospects. Manganese
deposits on the Pacific coast have
proved commercially available. They
have been found in the province of
Guanacaste. Arrangements have been
made for exploiting these manganese
deposits and transporting them through
the Panama canal to Philadelphia.
Besides her bananas and coffee and
her minerals. Costa Rica has a variety
of tropical agricultural products. and
there are also some fine ranches. These
however, do not enter into the export
trade to any great extent
The prosperous condition OF the coun-
try was urged one reason Why
Washington should recognize the de
facto government. However. the coffee
and banana crops were not due to any
government. They were due to the
opportunity which the soil and climate
offer for raising coffee and bananas.
and to the markets which exist in the
United States and elsewhere for those
products. The claim made was that
the de facto government was entitled
to recognition because the revolution
which brought 1t into power had not
interfered with the normal course of
industry and trade This was a legitl-
mate argument. since usually Latin
American revolutions destroy crops
and interrupt trade.
Apparently other considerations were
more potent with the Washington ad-
ministration In the continued refusal
to recognize the new government. The
precedent of Peru three years ago was
urged without effect. Notwithstanding
the declaration that revolutionary gov
ernment in Latin American countries
would not be recognized, prompt rec
cgnition as SIN the Peruvian gov