The Cordova daily times., 1918-02-06
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPEN


10y Associated PreSs)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Encourag-
ing reports of Americas chances for
increasing her share of the worlds
trade are being brought to the depart
ment of commerce by special agents
and commercial attaches after investf-
cation in South America, the Orient
Africa and Australia. Information of
commercial pecularities and sugges-
tions for meeting the wishes of for
eign purchasers have been prepared
for the use of American business men
Robert S. Barrett, special agent of
the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce, reported today on his study
of the paper trade in South America.
He visited every country of that CON
tinent and listed the equipment and re-
quirements of $500 newspapers and
printing offices. He will undertake
soon a trip through this country to
confer with paper manufacturers and
their South American business.
Compliance with South American
trade customs is all that is necessary
to make purchasers there permanent
customers of the United States" Mr.
Barrett said Everywhere l went
found the most cordial feeling toward
this country and Americans. They
realize down there that the United
States entered the war for altruistic
reasons and at an enormous sacrifice
of men and treasure. Having fought
for democratic government them
selves, they admire with all the fervor
of the Latin race a nation which
abandoned a war trade as great as
ours to fight for world freedom.
THE Mexican policy of the United
States has removed whatever of mis-
understanding there may have existed
regarding North American ambition in
South America. Those who asstrted
that the United States had territorial
ambitions have been disarmed by our
withdrawal from Vera Cruz. Those
who were jealous of the prestige of
the United States have been won over
by the participation of South Ameri-
can diplomats in affairs affecting this
hemisphere"
The only thing standing in the way
of increasing our export trade is UNI
familiarity with conditions in South
America, which call for a handling Of
shipments that is different from our
practices here"
One such difference cited by Mr..
Barrett is in the packing of goods
sent to the west coast of South Amer
lea. Because of numerous transfers
of shipment and lighterage in the shall
low harbors, rolls of paper must be
protected by wooden shocks. Paper
not so protected arrived damaged,
causing dissatisfaction and loss. Do
mestic packing is adequate for east
coast shipments.
The use of the metric system in
South America also imposes special
conditions on trade to insure con-
formity to sizes desired there. While
American publishers put their fiat pa
per on the basis of 500 sheets, weigh
ing 80 pounds, the South American
figures according to the number of
grams to the square meter.
Peculiarities of tariffs have to be
considered-large size paper. for in
stance, taking small duty in Uruguay,
while smaller sizes pay heavy duty be-
cause classed as writing paper, which
is regarded as luxury. In Chile pa
per that contains Is per cent or more
of ground pulp enters free.
There are styles of paper desired in
South America which have to be made
especially for that trade. and which
always heretofore have cen supplied
by European makers. Chief of those
is the so-called stamped paper, used
for legal documents, in which the gov.
eminent has monopoly for revenue
purposes. 1t is hand made and water