Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-01
NROF. GUILLERMO A. SHEER
- WELL, professor of Spanish at
Georgetown University, and

Georgetown University, and
the eighteen students of the
universitys School of Foreign Service,
who left Washington a little more
than a month ago to gain first-hand
and practical knowledge in Latin
American trade, have been most cor
daily welcomed in Venezuela, both by
officials of the government and by the
people there, according to a letter
which has just been received by a
friend here. In addition to represent
ing Georgetown and acting as pre-
ceptor to the students. DR.. Sherwell
also went as representative of the
inter-American high commission, of
which he is judicial expert.
There is tendency-very success
full SO far-to make Venezuela indie
pendent in industrial matters" writes
DR.. Sherwell, this in connection with
a visit he and his party have just
paid to an exposition of natural re-
sources and industrial products.
The highroads are excellent" he
continues. THE appropriation for
public education has been doubled this
year. The monetary system is simple.
Gold circulates freely"
Referring to the government de-
partments, of which he has made q
special study, he says they seem
to have the right man in the right
place"
DR.. Sherwell reports that just be-
fore he arrived in Caracas. the capt.
tai, the commercial travellers con-
vention had been ratified. The pur-
pose of this treaty, which has now
been agreed to between the United
States and six of the other American
republics, is to facilitate trade rela-
tions by simplifying the customs rules
and regulations for the admission
into the various countries of COM
mercial travellers with their samples.
The convention now being signed
with the different countries will do
away with many of the inconvenience
to which commercial travellers have
been subjected, such as the payment
in some countries of numerous local
tenn single license fee in each coun-
try will be all that is required.
Another important feature is thai
there will be liberal customs treat
ment of samples carried by the drum
mer." Samples without commercial
value will be admitted duty free
while other samples will be granted
temporary free admission under bond
| for their re-eXportation within siz
months. Delay in the clearance OF
samples also will be avoided. In ad-
dition to Venezuela, the other coun-
| tries which have signed the travellers
convention are Guatemala, Panama
Paraguay, Salvador and Uruguay.
A convention for the arbitration OF
commercial disputes between the
Chamber of Commerce of Venezuela
and the Chamber of Commerce of the
signed, writes DR.. Sherwel. All OF
this. he said, was good news" SINH.
| lar conventions between the national
trade bodies of this country anc
some of the other American republics
already are in operation and the re-
suits so far achieved are said to be
excellent. This leads interested trade
officials to believe that such machin'
cry for the prompt and efficient treat
ment of disputes which may arise be.
| tween business men and concerns OF
| various countries will be set up one
after another in the countries witt
which the United States deals.
kk *
Three Americans firms are expected
to place their bids with the Panama
government within a short time fol
roads on the isthmus. Two million
! dollars already is available for the
good roads" program contemplated
by Panama. The entire project will
cost approximately 100000.
Thomas Shepard, vice president OF
Chicago and New York, and repre-
sentative of the American 1nterna-
tional Corporation, are now in Pana'
ma Mr.. Douglas of Parsons. Platt
Brinkerhoff & Douglas has been In
vited to visit Panama. While unable
| to attend in person, he will send a
representative to place a bid for the
construction work.
Panamas good roads building plan
| is watched with interest not only in
America, but in her sister republics
of the south.
The Panama legation announces
through Senior Don ]. E. Lefevre
charge daffaires, the opening Janu-
arv / 1921. of a Pan-American Col
lege of Commerce, under the special
patronage of the government of Pan
ANA, 1t is believed the college will
have a most important bearing upon
the development of commerce and
intercourse between the United States
and Panama.
The college will be a training
camp" for intensive study in two six
month courses each year of every
phase of pan-American trade. The
members of the school will come from
the chambers of commerce, CONNER
cial organizations, foreign trade nrms
and educational institutions of the
commercial centers of both CONT
nents. They will have at their dis
posal the practical facilities and
sources of knowledge provided by the
Panama canal, it's administration, its
operation and its bearing on many
phases of international commerce
The government of Panama has is
sued a special decree providing for
the administration of the college and
has dedicated to it's use modern build
ings and grounds. John Barrett, re-
firing director general of the Pan
American Union and former United
States minister to Argentina. Panama
and Colombia, has accepted the post
of president of the administrative
council. DR.. Clarence J. Owens. direc-
tor general of the Southern CONNER
cial Congress and former economic
commissioner for Panama. will be eX-
ecutive director.
Secretary Alexander of the Depart
ment of Commerce, in an official let
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