The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-15
BARRETT SAYS U. 5. WILL HOLD OWN
 IN ARGENTINE

Washington, April 15.-A study of market conditions and methods in Argentina has convinced me that, so far as this particular country is con- cerned, American trade will continue for many years to hold it's own,' Robert $. Barrett, commercial at tache to the United States embassy in Buenos Aires, declared today in a report to the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
 In answering the "most pertinent question" now in the minds of busi- ness men of the United States whether this country can retain the commercial prestige gained during the war - MT. Barrett found numerous reasons for optimism. He said firms in the United States were coming to a better understanding of their South American trade because they were studying its needs. Increased credit facilities are being arranged and clos CT relations achieved by the establish ment of branch houses in Latin America and buying offices in the United States.
 He warned, however, that compet- itive freight rates, trained men, ab- solute honesty and investment In South American securities, were ne | cessary to maintain the position | which United States goods now hold in the countries to the south of the | equator
 While perhaps the United States 1 percentage of the total imports into Argentina may not pc so large as it has been in the past four years, dur ing which competition from Euro pean countries was greatly affected by the war, the value of it's exports to Argentina will be larger in the next few years than ever before" MT. Barrett said.
 Ut cannot be expected that the United States will continue to sup ply Argentina with the greater part of its imports of cotton and woolen goods, glassware, chinaware, drugs, heavy chemicals, cardboard and cer- tain raw materials, when normal con ditions are restored in Europe, but, on the other hand, imports of such goods as iron and steel, lumber. petroleum products, machinery, fur niture, boots and shoes, cement, au- tomobiles, office supplies and special ties, in which America had a large part before the war and which have been reduced by the war CondltlonS, will be greatly increased.
 ''In passing, 1t may be noted that in 1917 the United States supplied Argentina with goods valued at $133,- 251, ,949 United States currency, or 36 per cent. of the total imports. Its nearest competitor was the Unit ed Kingdom, whose exports to the Argentine were valued at SSO,08O,- 322
 There are several fundamental reasons which are responsible for this conclusion:
 American manufacturers and ex- porters are beginning to know and tc meet the requirements of the Argen- ! tine buyer. The old system of try l ing to force goods which conformet lSto the demands of the market in thu ] United States upon the people of thi: 1 country is passing away and an in | telligent effort is being made to sup ! ply the things which meet the taste
 and desires of the consuming pub | lie Careful studies of the mErke
 have been made within the pas
 years, not only by United States gov
 ernment agencies, but by individua
 manufacturers.
 '"The establishment by two of tn
 most important national banks o
 United States of branches in the Ar
 genuine, and the general adoption c