The Washington times., 1920-03-01
SH|PSNEEDEDTO
GET LATIN TRADE
Europe and Japan Would Seize
U. S. Opportunity, Says
John Barrett.
ny JOHN BARRETT.
Director General Of the Pra-A@ert-
ess Union sad Former Usited
states Minister 90 ArGeatiaa.
Panama, snd Colombia


1t Is no exaggeration TO state that
the relations OF commerce. inter
course and friendship between the
United States and it's twenty sister
republics OF Latin America depend
more on nrst-class shipping facilities
than upon any other influence. BY
shipping facilities l mean not only
vessels suited for carrying freight
back and forth. but OF special speed.
quality and size for carrying pas
sengers. the mails, and what may be
termed express freight.
Travel develops trade directly and
unless the exporters and importers.
the business men. the bankers and
hnanciers OF both North and South
America can visit both sections of
the Western Hemisphere under favor
able conditions, they will not develop
that trade acquaintance and CO.
operation which are absolutely neces-
sary for the building up OF a vast
commerce and n political solidarity.
Eur0pe Had SHIPS.
For many years the routes OF travel
between Great Britain. France. Spain
and italy and the countries OF Latin
America have been characterized by
high class passenger and mail ves-
sells as well as by freight carriers.
Up to the time of the war travel of
representative Latin Americans and
Europeans back and forth was SO
far greater than the corresponding
travel of North and South Americans
that there was little comparison, and
II was indeed remarkable that the
value OF trade between the United
States and its sister republics grew
as rapidly as It did under adverse
conditions of shipping facilities.
During the war nearly all OF the
first class passenger and mail car
riers between Europe and Latin
America were taken of while the
facilities for travel between the
United States and Latin America were
better than those to and from Europe.
Now ALL European lines are being
re-established without the corre-
spending Improvement in lines be-
tween the United States and Latin
America
Urges Pernaaent Service.
| It is. therefore, OF the highest i'm
portance that there should be estab-
lished permanent high-class passen-
ger. mail. and express steamship
ScrNlCc Det"ten the "bll,
and Pacific coasts of the UniteI
States and the corresponding coasts
OF Latin America. II Is to be regret
ted that, although nearly a year and
a half has elapsed since the arrniE-
tice, this kind OF Pan-AT 81 = 3"
steamship service is entirely a.
auate, an a 50 iHfSgi1rto the Y
pea .t4HtAmsricAn asrviee FsI
sAeas q chaerfn,
Every steamship RAINING be Wsen
I.atin-Ane RIGA and the United states
having high class passenger fa 2 Ties
and making good time has been
crowded to the Limit, and II noW- is
difficult to secure space on any NiEA
class vessel going either way This
situation is thoroughly apprecih1ej
rope and Japan. and they are mskinS
every effort to take advantage or IT.
This is TO their credit. but to the mis-
fortune Of the United States.
In my opinion, as a student for long
years in Pan-American matters,
steamships with high class passenger
accommodations should have little
difficulty in selling all their space
and in charging sufficient rates %
make the undertaking profitable.
have always advocated that there
never, could be built up and main
tanned permanent Pan-American
commerce, Pan-American intercourse
and Pan-American solidarity without
first class steamship facilities of ey-
| cry kind