The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-07
CHILEAN EDITOR OUTLINES
WA US FOR US TO WIN TRADE
Tells How Europeans Gained Big Foothold in South
America and Advises Exporters on Needs
and Customs Of Republics.


with splendid generosity offered all kinds
OF facilities TO their Latin American
clients and satisfied tho customs and
tastes Of each one OF our countries.
This for the reason that. for example,
the same cloth and the same porcelain
Is not used in Chile and In Nicaragua
and there are different commercial Gus
toms in Argentina than there are In CO.
lombia.
The travelling agents and European
representatives were individuals OF great
tact. extremely courteous and satisfied
the smallest claim OF their buyers. The
merchandise from Europe never arrived
badly packed. the quality was Just what
was required. they were never late in
delivery and II by some chance q mis-
take was made It was Immediately rec
tined This carefulness OF the Europeans
was the best element for breaking into
the South American markets and must
repeat that the long credit was the basis
OF all business.
Unfortunately. the American producer
has not yet learned these things. and
| to do so he must first become acquainted
with Latin America itself. where there
Is an Intellectual. social and material
refinement superior to that imagined
ordinarily.
II IL therefore probable that q great
the United States may return to Europe
unless the United States offers better
conditions for doing business to the
Latin Americans.
Chile is one country that 10 called
upon to maintain definitely Q per-
centage of her business with the United
States on account OF a special fact-the
nitrate production. The nitrates, for
which Chile holds the world monopoly
for production. were taken almost en-
urely by Europe before the war for
purposes OF agriculture. During the war
all OF the production of Chilean nitrates
was used In the manufacture OF ex-
plosives, and It can be said without
mistake that the Allies won the war
with the Chilean nitrate.
Prof Waldemar Kaempfert. in his
article, The Chemist and the Food
Problem" (Amertcon Repieu Of Re
Hetos. March, 1919. in speaking of
Chilean nitrate says: whenever you
eat piece Of bread rest assured that
you have paid your share of Chiles
tax" which indicates the vital i'm
portance which our saltpeter will be for
the agricultural production Of the United
states. So now II the United States re-
places Europe as the purchaser of the
largest part OF our nitrate Chile will
nave several million dollars to her credit
which she would naturally invest in
goods or American manufacture The
purchase by the United States Of the
bulk OF nitrate produced in Chile would
nave the advantage OF diminishing the
liabilities for new war in the world.
as tne cheapest raw material for max
ing nitro explosives would be lacking.
Chile Is besides "a large producer OF
copper and offers the most brilliant
opportunities to American capital de-
string to engage itself in industrial
enterprise in that country
we not only have a solid guarantee In
gold $2O gold Of 1Sd. per capita) but
our finances have also been handled with
the greatest exactness. Chile Is one OF
the very few countries that each year
PUBLISH large volume giving an
account OF tho expenditures of the
budget OF state. Chile has never failed
TO meet her obligations in due course
and for this reason has without inter.
ruption enjoyed full credit in the finan-
cial markets OF Europe. For example
II VIII be sufficient to state during the
only civil war we have had In a century
IN the year 1891. the belligerent factions
fastened to pay their share Of PRINCIPAL
and interest of the public debt On this
account Chlle's foreign credit did not
suffer any in that civil war. To use
the phrase of Mr.. Mels. Chile has al
ways pctH DltSSeu Win secretaries of
the Treasury like w. G. McAdoo" for
the simple reason that Congress- and the
various administrations have been strict
IN the discharge OF their fiscal duties.
Furthermore there IL in Chile what is
called 1.-The public opinion" represented
by an honorable and independent press.
In concluding wish to impress the
necessity for more thorough under
| standing by the North OF the South. The
American newspapers should have reg
ular sections devoted to South American
matters and better cable service. The
different reviews and magazines should
limit themselves to graphic information
OF our countries and would lose nothing.
but have something to. gain. by the
collaboration OF Latin American writer's
Pan-American agreement for a unfit
cation of the statistical methods. as
have advocated many times before
would be the most beneficial Initiative
and the basis for notable increase In
tne moral social and commercial rela-
lions OF both continents.