Evening star., 1918-11-10
Beating a Hun
Trade Trick

set of standard specifications for
structural materials such as cement,
iron, steel, etc. as published by the
American Society of Testing Materials
and generally used in this country.
This is done because it was discovered
that when big projects were in con-
temptation German intrigue had had
trick specifications inserted which
American business interests could not
fulfill. These standard specifications,
therefore, are made available SO that
the American manufacturer of build
ing materials may get fair chance at
contracts to be let.
The war needs Of the United States
and the allies gave Argentina a
chance to supply grain and beer.
Uruguay beef and Chile nitrates
dous quantities. The war deprived
Brazil of her market for her one big
crop-coffee. The effect of the war on
Brazil has been striking paradox.
Apparently she has been the hardest
hit and at the same time the most
countries. The serious dislocation Of
trade has brought about in Brazil
changes Of such far-reaching signih-
canoe as to mark new period OF
growth in her industrial and CONNER
cial life. This country is especially
interesting to manufacturers and ex-
porters in the United States.
+
Brazirs exports have not expanded
during the war because they were not
the sort of products for
Rrazipa which there is a war de-
mand. Coffee in 1913 was
Ardue. 63 per cent Of the total
exports, and coffee is not a war COM
modify. The United States is now the
only unrestricted market for Brazilian
coffee and this country takes about
one-half the total exports. This,
coupled with curtailment of the in
flow of foreign capital, has given
Brazil a hard blow.
But this has been blessing in dis
Ruise to Brazil, which is now diversi-
flying production and export First
cattle. On her tremendous idle acre
age there are today 100000 head OF
cattle. Great packing plants. financed
principally by American capital, are
growing up. Second, no country in the
world has better possibilities for cul-
tivation of cotton and sugar, and con-
siderable attention is being given to
rice. By arrangement with the Jap,
anese government several thousand
Japanese colonists have been brought
to Brazil to show how to cultivate
rice that is cheap and Of good quail
ity. Third, in the state of Minas Geraes
there is a rich and varied Supply OF
minerals. Iron deposits of Brazil are
among the largest in the world. In
production Of manganese Brazil has
done her principal war work and has
given the United States chance to
be free from dependence upon Rus.
sia. The worlds principal source OF
supply for manganese before the war
was Burma and Russia. The Russian
supply has been reduced to practically
rothing on account OF the war diff
ficulties of getting it. Burma has
1913, Brazil has come forward as the
nrincipal provider of manganese. AS
early as 1916 she showed she could
supply half million tons a year.
Before the war we took in imports
| from Brazil somewhat more than
twice as much as did
Growing Great Britain. During
| the war our imports
Imports. from Brazil have grown
| markedly. In 1917 we took half of
| the total of exports of that country.
! Meanwhile British imports from
Brazil have remained about station
ary. The United States and Great
Britain appear to have changed
places as regards exports to Brazil
In 1913 the United States exported
$3s,s01,2 ,203 to Brazil and Great Britain
s63,2s2,531. BY 1917 British exports
had fallen to $35.941.717. while those
of the United States had increased to
! S66, ,207, $40, an increase over 1913 of
about 40 per cent These figures are
| supplied by the Latin American divi-
! sion of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce after careful sur
| vey.
Having awakened to the danger OF
| placing dependence almost entirely on
subsidy and with the cooperative as
sistance of American capital, is building
up a widely diversified commerce in
raw materials and food supplies that
| the United States needs. and business
j interests in the United States have
first call on Brazirs commerce.
| This increased interest in agricul-
| ture and mining has already created
a rapidly increasing demand fol
tractors and other agricultural and
| mine machinery from the United
States. WILL P. KENNEDY.
HE ELECTION.