The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-31
Ky nRxEsTo MONTENEGRO.
u the star Of ''Ei Mercurio" OF Santiago.
Chile. and Agent of Public Informal
tion for the Chilean Government.


Specially written yor TIE SCS.
South America has for four years
been living n revival of that old seclu-
sion from world society of n truly
Spanish colony, not even lacking the
tardy image of one OF the "galleons" OF
yore In the form OF the monthly or hi
monthly steamship that now happens to
visit those shores. But in the times OF
old the arrival of a ship from the mighty
Spanish Main wac cause of rejoicing
fol the sons OF the new world. while
nowadays the presence Of steamship
from New York or Liverpool only serves
to make more painful the realization that
Spanish America has been abandoned to
It's primitive isolation.
Just before tho war any South
American port looked almost like a
pa geant with Its show Of flags from
every quarter OF the world the British,
the French. the German. the Japanese.
the Norwegians, even the American were
dlsputing among themselves the trade of
these countries. The United States was
not really a keen competitor yet. but
it's nag was bound to appear whenever
one Of its staple products appeared.
Let US see what happens now. For
the last four years South America has
not been able to procure transportation
for the necessary quantities of supplies
for it's Industries and its every day life.
The shipmnets for that continent. when
made. have gone merely due to the cir
cumstance that allied ships had to 60
there for raw materials and food.
Who would blame any one for attend
ing first to his own business. having
besides the pressing needs OF a trenen-
dous war upon his hands? But the fact
OF South Americas isolation is worth
"A
81 II We remember that after six months
OF virtual peace on land and sea It con-
tinues under a practical blockade.
Distance Is a very relative thing. as
every one knows. That accounts for the
fact that a traveller or a bushes man
down In Central America feels more re-
mote from the States than n he were
In England or France, which is thrice
that distance. AS for the South Ameri-
can. what will one say of conditions that
cause letter or passenger to take thirty
to forty days In reaching New York and
often more time?
A boat on the Pacific coast OF South
America (there are ve-y few on the At.
lantic) makes from fifteen to twenty
day trip from Valparaiso TO Colon. Here
one must stay until a passage can be
obtained, for there Is no direct line thai
reaches beyond this point. save for one
passenger line, which very likely never
would receive more passengers en- route
The United Fruit steamers call at Color
| on their way to a banana port. but Their
the case may be that nothing is left, moi
even In the form OF a cabin sofa. by the
| people waiting one or two weeks ahead
of one. as this line Is so popular.
All this Is quite natural under the cir.
cumstances. Let me. nevertheless sug.
gest that none Of that amiable talk OF
Pan-Americanism. closer relations ant
special mutual interests OF tho America:
will carry conviction to the people dowr
there who want TO come to the State:
or send or receive some goods OF tn,
American market, and find everywhere
delays, difficulties and "cannots." i
neither a business man. a letter, a draf
or a cargo can get anywhere in a rea'
sonable time how can you expect specia
sympathies. better prices. preference II
business?
| II Is the same from the American mer
chants point OF view. I know he too Il
tired OF 1t. the lack OF speed in mail and
freight being an amending source OF mis-
understanding and errors in prices In hii
relations with South America hea,
that sometimes you blame the man down
there as lacking IN seriousness In tn,
transaction of business. but let me tel