The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-09
ARGENTINA VERGES
ON JOINING ALLIES
Head of 'La NaciOn" Expects
Republic Will Enter War
for Liberty.
DRAFT SYSTEM IN EFFECT
RaOul NaOn Comes With DR..
Mitre to Advance Their Ma
tons Trade With L. s.

"Aih' small circumstance might cause
Argentina to declare war against Ger
many" asserts DR.. Jorge A. Mitre. d.
rector OF La Nacion, one Of the biggest
papers in Buenos Ayres. who arrived yes
terday in New York for several months
stay for business reasons. DR.. Mtre.
who said Raoul Naon also arrived in
this country yesterday as high commits
soner from Argentina, is admittedly
pro-Ally in his sympathies. and last
night he stated that Argentina would
need but the smallest excuse to array
herself beside America in this war.
"A circumstance SO small that II would
not mean war in normal times would he
enough to stir Argentina to action" DR..
Mitre declared. THE LUX burg affair
crystallized the sentiment of Argentina
in no uncertain manner, and all the
leading citizens. the Congress and the
press are bold in their statements of
friendship toward the Allies"
Dr. Mitre refused to express an opin-
ion on the attitude of the President of
Argentina, stating that he belonged TO
an opposite political party and 1t would
not be fair.
strongly in Favor of War.
Personally believe we should have
gone into the war long ago" said DR.
Mitre, land I believe that we may yet
La Ndcion fas in the past and is main
tanning the policy OF more definite CO.
operation with the Allies. In its edi-
torials II has stated that neutrality is
the wrong course to take"
He explained that CONSUMPTION sys-
TEN has been In force for years in Ar
gentna.
Your own draft laws were inspired
by our CONSUMPTION laws" he declared
There are now 100000 trained men in
Argentina, WI under CONSUMPTION have
seen anywhere from one to two years
active service. The population Of the
country Is approximately nine millions
and from them great army could be
formed"
The business situation in Argentina
now is peculiar, according to the editor
Of La Ndcion. The population is rich
but the Government is poor. This is
because the imports diminished so very
much during the war, upon which there
are high taxes. The exports. especially
wheat and cattle, which are prime
requisites Of the warning nations, have
been huge. Already the Government is
considering some method of distributing
taxes by which the depleted treasures
of the Government may be replenished.
May Adopt the Income Tax.
There is no income tax in Argentina
and while DIR. Mitre would not say that
the Government was considering one he
did say that IL might possibly arrive at
one before very long.
Trade with Europe has been tire.
mendously affected by the war. but trade
with America has enormously increased
DR. Mitre declared. He added that one
of the purposes OF Commissioner Naon 5
arrival here was TO give proof OF ArEou-
tlna's willingness 10 arrive NJ pleasant
commercial relations with this country
and TO arrange big fnanc!a! matters
While there was "A host of German
business men in Argentina before the
war their activities have been greatly
nullifed by the blacklist and lack OF
shipping
DR.. Mitre has opened offices nj .
Wall street. where he will conduct the
business affairs of his paper while he
ia in this country. At present he Is
stopping at the R!tz-Carlton.