Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-28
Trade Path Opens
in South America
Continued from Paee one


sons ot their own. would let the agents
OF one concern have ready access TO
their community aud make It extremely
di u cult for the agents Of a rival FIRM.
The Germans who. through their bank
ING system. had obtained a considerable
hold in South American before the war,
are said to have made the utmost of
this loose and irregular way of taxing
commercial agents, accomplishing the
exclusion of the agents Of other corn-
tries. A local government. regarding
with favor a German house established
in its confines. might easily establish a
license fee that would be virtually pro-
hibitive against the agents of business
houses in other countries.
Up until the time the wal broke out.
North American merchants had been SO
lStle interested In foreign trade as
practically. 20 let the South American
market go by default. Few North
American houses dealt with South
America and they had grown used TO
the excise methods II had adjusted
themselves TO them. using largely native
sencies in disposins Of their wares.
War Changes situation
At any rate. there was not sufficient
force interested in opening South Amer
$50 S'hAN'' 'AAAt commerce upOu ~
reasonable basis. But with tho coming
of the war the two continents were
Drawn together. South America saw that
she must look TO the United states for
capital for her development. European
financial markets being closed to her for
the duration of the war. and for some
years after its conclusion.
The result was the opening Of
branches Of American banks in the
| ftta A.a- -.l
at closer commercial relations. \ Pan
American financial conference was held
in Washington in May. 1915. And out
or that conference, an international high
commission was founded, whose object
was to bring about uniformity and a
more liberal spirit OF the commercial
law Of the South American countries.
The plan of the international high
commission ~contemplates an end of all
local licensing with its extortionate
charges and a single system for all the
countries OF South America hat Will
agree with it. Most of the nations OF
South America have accepted the plan,
though only of them. Uruguay, has
formally aCceded TO it through its
minister of State.
Under the plan proposed, the United
states. and conversely. the South
= American countries. will have a certain
control over the commercial travellers
going to any Of the treaty States, foI
the traveller will have TO take with hin
a certificate of character from his home
country. This will operate as a sort Of
guarantee of good faith in our trading
with South America and will remove the
source Of some OF the disputes that have
arisen as a result Of our trading there
in the past. Cpou the presentation %
this certificate, the traveller will receive
a national license emitting him TO Nist
any part OF the country, free from loca
regulations or local eXactious. Unles!
European countries obtain similal
treaties, the American trader vii
possess an advantage in South America
At any rate. It IL expected that trade
will grow between this country and thu
Republics TO the South Il close
political relations will spring up in con
sequence.
Tie friendship Of South America ha
been carefully cultivated since tie wa
began. Great consideration has bee
shown in withdrawing shipping iron
South American trade for war purposes
After the war it is proposed TO use
considerable portion Of the shipping be
/. ing constructed by the shipping Boar
in establishing new lines to South Amer
lea. A commercial Pam America is il
prospect.