The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-15
GROWING MARKETS
 OF SOUTH AMERICA
Nv HOLLAND

New York, June A. - (SpeciaD.-Four
 years ago the international trade pe-
 tween the United States and South
 America was so small as to be almost
 negligible In spite of the fact that some
 of the foremost minds in American li1e
 had already called attention to the op-
 portunity for developing a trade with
 South America, which in time might be-
 come as large as our trade with Great
 Britain At least 10 years ago James
 Stillman, having returned to the Onltea
 States after a brief sojourn in England
 and France, spoke with enthusiasm or
 the opportunity which awaited pernaps
 the younger men of the United States 10
 foster trade with South America. To do
 that successfully, MT. Stillman said would
 require at least training of five years
 of American representatives, who were
 sent to South America. They must learn
 the language. They must nave goou
 understanding of the business customs
 characteristic of the South American
 people, They must cultivate urpanity
 and that kind of social charm with which
 the people of South America at ieas'
 the leaders, are familiar. They must re-
 frain from bustling, hustling methods
 and learn the fine art of business dlpio-
 macy. These things having been done,
 Mir Stillman predicted that there would follow an amazing increase in our trade with South America and necessarily very large increase in our purchase or South American commodities, especially raw material
 Little heed was paid to MT. Stillman's suggestion, although some of the leaders in larger industries, especially electrical apparatus and equipment, did enter the South American markets and one or them gained considerable success. Theodore IN. Vail went to South America in order to establish electrical and trolley systems and he was so successful that he was able after a few years sojourn there to
 return to the United States and retire to his farm in Vermont.
 These however, were only incidental approaches to the great South Amerlcan
 markets. Then came the unexpected ana amazing change which was occasloned by the outbreak of the European war. There began practically an embargo upon commerce between the South American nations and Europe. No other country | than the United States offered oppor- tunities to the people of South America who needed various commodities which | they formerly bought in England or upon l the continent of Europe. Gradually there l appeared in American industrial finan- l cial centers representatives of the south American nations who were sent here to see whether or not they could make sat- l isfactory bargains.
 On the other hand, the United States began to buy heavily of South American | raw material. especially. the commodities ot that kind which formerly they ob- tained elsewhere. So that at last when the armistice was signed it was discov- cred that within four years our interna- tional trade with South America com bined with our trade with Canada. rep ] resented an aggregate larger than our trade with any other country. excepting of course, that with our allies who were compelled by the exigencies of the war | to buy munitions and food here. These purchases, however. were of kind which would be maintained only while the war lated. Mmh Sa @
 If James G. Blaine were alive he would read with qualification the report of the proceedings If the Pan-American com