The Washington herald., 1918-04-04
TRADE OFFERS
ID S. AMERICA
Holland Reviews Opportu7
mites Awaiting Develop
) ment by U. S. Capital.

In this column yesterday a report
was made Of the results consequent
upon the recent visit to South Amer
lean nations by a commission Of
american business leaders under the
supervision and official authority of
secretary McAdoo. 1t was not pos
siole In the column to do more than
70 set forth the general statement
which was made to Secretary Nc
Adoo by James J. Farrell, president
of the United States Steel Corpora
tion. who was chairman of the COM
mission which went to South Amer
lea.
The commission spent a little over
q year in South America. 1t was
divided into several bodies, one of
which visited Brazil, another Argen-
Una. and still another the west coast
OF South America, including Bolivia.
II may be that the best understand
ing of what this commission secured
IN the way Of information that will
be Of value to American business in
terests who are now seeking and will
continue to seek expansion Of our In
ternatiOnaI trade in South America
will be by referring in some detail to
the report made by Earnest H.
Wands, who was chairman of that
committee of the commission which
visited Peru. Bolivia and Chill.
Mr.. wands Speaks Spanish.
Mr.. wands was especially competent
for this important work for the rea-
son that during the administration Of
Mr.. Knox as Secretary of State under
prpEfdanF II the
confidential representative of the
State Department upon several oc-
casions in South America and in Cen
tral America. Furthermore, as he
speaks Spanish fiuently, he was all
the more fitted for the important
3TOTk which was committed to him.
Mr.. Wands speaks with enthusiasm
Of the opportunities which are open
to the United States for international
trade with Peru, Bolivia and Chilli.
Forty years ago the late William r.
Grace, who afterwards was twice
mayor of New York City. began the
development of international trade
between Peru and the United States.
What was then begun under the lead
ership of Mayor Grace has been main
tanned and increased so that there
are now good reasons, i'm Mr.. Wands'
View, for believing that We are speed
lily to establish very large internatiOn-
al commerce with Peru and that
American capital will be wisely tempt
ed to make investment for the ex-
plotting of the inCOnceivably rich re-
sources of Peru. Mr.. Wands says
that business propositions in South
America and especially Peru are now
carefully studied in the United States
4 q
nanced. There is i'm fact no doubt
that many of our nnanciers whose
vision is not limited have concluded
that in the long run more benefit will
accrue to the United States i'm fl
nancinS and developing South Amer
lea than in holding funds to lend to
kour European trade competitors for
Reconstruction purposes after the war.
In speaking to the Lima Chamber
Of Commerce. using the Spanish
language, Mr. Wands said Our
business men realize that there are
many reasons why this is particu-
larly good time to get acquainted
with the possibilities of Latin-Amer-
lea
Great Britain Taught Lesson.
There are only three large inter
national trade nations and these, Mr..
Wands told his Peruvian friends, are
the United States. Great Britain and
Germany.
Great Britain taught a lesson which
business men of the United States
must learn If We are to gain any
part of the prestige in South Amer
ica which it is possible now for us
to gain. Great Britain gained her
commerce in South America first
by establishing what was the first
line of steamers between Europe and
South America. then by introducing
the first cable. then by financing
the pioneer railroads which opened
up the country, to settlement and de-
VelopmenT and Furthermore by es-
tablishinS adequate banking facili-
ties Germany was speedily upon the
heels Of Great Britain in South Amer
lea and at the time the European
war began Germany had established
a huge trade with South America.
That country was materially helped
in this work by the hundreds of
thousands OF German immigrants
who settled in Brazil and other parts
of South America.
Germany yentured the risk Of los
ing the magnificent trade which she
had secured with South America when
the Kaiser determined to draw the
sword. Before the war Germany and
Great Britain possessed the greatest
merchant marine in the world and the
best system of branch banks in South
America Now it is time for the