Evening star., 1919-11-09
'REAPING CROP PLANTED IN 1892

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If Columbus had not discovered
America some one else would. but, just
the same, America
A Profitable which in the inter-
Investment venins AT years mas
A"soe'As' grown to be the rich
est nation on the globe and a store
house Of supplies for all the world.
does not forget that it was Isabella
OF CASTLE who pledged her jewels to
outfit the voyage Of Columbus which
put America on the map. 1t is with
a spirit Of ancient romance, therefore.
that Uncle Sam today casts his eye
over the long list of requisitions filed
by the Spanish don. and says: DO the
best you can for the boy"
Spain, in the person of Queen 1sa-
bella, thought that it was good in
vestment for that country to send Co
lumbus overseas to find a direct route
to the riches of the orient, and now
the United States. with greater and
ever dreamed of-wealth that has been
developed and increased by science
and invention and industry-realizes
j., that Columbus really opened up a
route for disposing of the American
surplus. Not only in crops. and in
manufactured products is the United
States paying back it's debt to Spain,
fo1 ho
a promising field for investment. So
the bread that Queen Isabella cast
upon the waters has returned.
In this period Of commercial recon-
struction Spain is experiencing a keen
trade contest. but the preference is all
with the United States. The condi-
tions which obliged the Spanish i'm
porter to draw supplies from the
United States are rapidly changing,
and a strong attempt is being made
by former competitors to resume their
position in this trade. The advantages
on the side Of the American exporter
are, however, numerous, as Consul
General Carlton B. Hurst. at Barcelona.
points out.
American goods are well known and
liked in Spain; Spaniards are familiar
with the articles pro-
goods ponu1ar duced in the United
States and already
III 0PdAA' accustomed to their
use. Moreover. 1t is generally recog-
nized that today the United States is
in a better position to fill orders than
other countries that heretofore sup
Piled large quantities Of merchandise
to Spain.
When import and export restrictions
are removed and transportation ia
exporter will find in Spain a ready
sale for most of the merchandise he
can spare. With these advantages on
their side American shippers should
study the needs of that country and
adopt their products to Spanish de-
mands.
Well equipped agencies should be
established, full lines of goods car
ried, ample advertising matter In
Spanish furnished, weights and meas
ures given in the metric system. terms
quoted C. i. t. Spanish ports II possible
and reasonable credit allowed. Much
can be done by catalogues and corre-
spondence. but a local representative
is preferable. and the market Is well
worth the most intensive cultivation,
Consul General Hurst has assured the
Commerce and State departments.
Spain offers peculiar advantages for
the investment of American capital.
according to the testimony of Span
ish commercial expert There is now
comparatively little American capital
invested in that country, while some
foreign countries have important in
terests in various Industries, having
established factories and being now
engaged in manufacturing goods.
Spain, with a population Of about
%, ,000, 900, has numerous seaports, and
the Iberian penin-
Nearest to the sula is the nearest
c. point in Europe to
oAAsSo S'osSe' the eastern shore
OF the United States. The prosperity
Of the country creates a demand for
goods of the highest class and Ameri-
can products are much sought What
problems are to be overcome in Sc
curing trade with Spain permanently
should be studied with care. Many
Spanish conditions are available.
bureau of foreign and domestic COM
merce Of the Department OF Com
merce which has recently sent a COM
mercial attache to Spain with an ef-
ficient staff, the American Chamber of
Commerce in Barcelona and foreign
and domestic banks.
American consular offices are To-
Gated in twenty cities of Spain and
are fully informed as to local condi-
tions, as well as active in extending
American interests abroad.
Banking institutions representing
American capital In Spain are con.
tributing much to the development Of
Bank of the Americas, which was
founded in New York in 1915. estab-
lished q branch in Barcelona at the
beginning Of 1918. Additional branch
Seville. The parent institution con-
trolls banks in Cuba, Nicaragua. Hon
duras, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil
and Peru. 1t also has agencies in
other countries of Central and South
America and branches in Paris and
Barcelona. The existence Of the
handling Of the credit granted by
group Of Spanish bankers to the
United States in the fall of 1918, as
well as the successive renewal Of this
credit.
X
In discussing the banking situation
Trade Commissioner Arthur N. Young
. also reminds American
pronoh trade interests that a large
American bank is organic
oaAAs' ing a branch in Madrid
and plans to open a subbranch in Bar
celona. This bank now has branches