The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1919-04-10
Country Can Retain
Prestige Gained Dur
ing the War.
SHOULD INVEST
CAPITAL FREELY
This Country Furnished
36 Per Cent Total
Imports 1917.
A ssOciated Press

WASHINGTON, April 10 "a
study of market conditions and meth.
DDS in Argentina has convinced me
that, so far as this particular country
is concerned, American trade will con
tinue for many years to hold it's own,
Robert S. Barrett, commercial at
tache to the United States embass,
in Buenos Aires, declared today il
a report to the Bureau of Foreign
Domestic Commerce.
In answering the ''most pertinent
question now in the minds of bust
ness men of the United States
whether this country can retain the
commercial prestige gained during
the war-Mr. Barrett found numer-
Gus reasons for optimism. He said
firms in the United States were com
ing to a better understanding of their
South American trade because they
were studying its needs. Increased
credit facilities are being arranged
and closer relations achieved by the
establishment of branch houses in
Latin-America and buying offices in
the United States.
He warned, however, that compe-
titive freight rates, trained men, ab-
solute honesty and investment in
South American securities, were nee
essary to maintain Jne position which
United States goods now hold in the
countries to the south of the equator
"While perhaps The United States
percentage of the total imports into
Argentina may not be so large as it
has been IN the past four years, dur
ing which competition from European
countries was greatly affected by the
war, the value of it's exports to Ar
> gentlna will be larger in the next few
years than ever before" Mr.. Barrett
said.
'1t cannot be expected that the I'm
tied States will continhe to. supply
Argentina with the greater part of
its imports of cotton and woolen
woolen goods, glassware, chinaware,
drugs, heavvy chemicals, cardboard
and certain raw materials, when nor
NAL conditions are restored in Eu-
rope, but on the other hand imports
of such goods as iron and steel, pc
troleum products, machinery, furni-
ture, boots and shoes, cement, auto
mobiles, office supplies and special
ties, in which Ameica had a large part
before the war and which have been
reduced by war conditions, will be
greatly increased.
I'm passing, it may be noted that
in 1917 the United States supplied
Argentina with goods valued at $133,-
251 ,949 Omitted States currency, or
Sc per cent of the total imports It's
nearest competitor was the United
Kingdom, whose exports to the Ar
gentine were valued at $S0,0SO,322.
THE establishment by two of the
most important national banks of the
United States of branches in the Ar
gentine, and the general adoption of
trade acceptances, have made the fin
ancing of shipments to and from the
Argentine much easier and given the
American manufacturer an opportun-
lty to grant necessary credits to COM
pete with other countries. Argentina,
like all new countries, requires long
credits.
"American concerns are esta blish-
ing their own branch houses or direct
agencies in Argentina to conduct
their sales. Within the last two
years, progress in this direction has
been great, but it is expected that
when the companies in the United
States now being organized under the
provisions of the Webb Law are es-
tablished in foreign countries, a large
increase in. their number will be not
ed. Large Argentine concerns, many
of them controlled by European cap
ital, are locating permanent buyers
in the United States"
Turning from the optimistic side
Of the development of American
trade in the Argentine, Mr. Barrett
pointed out few things which will
be necessary if manufacturers in the
United States are to continue to oc-
cupy an important part in this mar
ket.
"First, he said, "The United States
must be placed on a party with Eu-
ropean nations in the matter of ship
ping and freight rates. Now that
the war is over there is tendency
to revert to old conditions. Estab-
lishment of regular lines Of steam
ers, between the United States and
the River Plate is most essential.
Manufacturers in the United
g States must train young men or
foreign service and give them suffi.
cient inducements to live permanent.
ly in foreign countries. One Of the
most discouraging features of our ov.
erseas trade is the lack of competent
men to fill important positions
abroad.
Finally" said Mr.. Barrett, Am
erican capital must be more freely
invested in South American securitie.
of proved worth.
No single factor" he added, cha:
been more responsible for the import
ant part that Great Britain has taker
in supplying Argentina with raw ma
terial and manufactured product.
than the very large investment o,
british capital in Argentine railway
ead Industrial enterprises"