The Washington herald., 1920-04-05
Industrial Activities Gain as
Natives Settle Down to
Task Of Reconstructing
Respective Countries on
Sounder Basis.


troubles now confronting Germany
is counterbalanced In no small de-
gree by the German spirit OF ma
tionalism and racial solidarity
spirit which Russia, composed of
far-fiung and unco-ordinated races.
lacks. Because of Germany's ma
tional consciousness. and her devo-
tion to German racial interests.
close observers are inclined to look
for an eventual settlement of her
present difficulties. It seems un-
likely that the German people will
continue to tolerate conditions
which would further injure what
remains OF their prestige abroad.
and which would greatly increase
the difficulties of their already stu
pendous task of Industrial. COM
mercial and political recovery. The
history and growth of Germany.
point wholly the other way.
French Trade Recovery.
The notable increase Of nearly
275 per cent in the value Of mer-
chandise shipped from the Paris
region to the United States in the
last year carries with II many
points OF great interest in estimat-
ing the hidden resources of France.
Out of a total declared value OF
about $1o5.000.000. more than y1U.-
900, 900 represented the single item
of Antiquities" This was more
than twice the value of all the cos
tunes and gowns exported. It
equaled the combined value
of the silk. perfumery and
soap exports. in spite Of these ar
ticles being supposedly typical Of
French export trade Yet antiqui-
ties, as such, represent no present
economic effort. They are one OF
the hidden resources of the coun-
try. Again, the proportionate value
of Frances exports in such articles
as beads and spangles and imitation
stones has a large Importance,
Quire a relatively small outlay in
the kind to which France can de-
vote herself with the least loss OF
time, and which. with American CO.
operation in creating a wider dis
tribution. she can export In guam
titles SUFFICIENT to have q definite
effect on exchange. The total ex-
ports of France in 1919 were valued
at more than s.7o0.ooo.o 900 francs,
representing an increase of nearly
1000, 100000 francs over 1918.
Our 1919 Trade with Latin America.
The publication Of the 1919 trade
figures with Latin America furn-
ishcs an excellent chance to ap-
praise the value Of this market in
relation to the rest of the world.
About one-eighth of all orr exports
in 1919 went to Latin America, or
less than a fifth of our exports to
Europe. They represented more
than our exports to the Far East
including Oceania, or to Canada or
to Africa.
In other words. Latin America
was our best customer next to Eu-
rope. On the other side of the
scale, our imports from Latin Amer
lea not only exceeded our exports
to these countries. but exceeded our
imports from any other section Of
the world, the Far East coming Sec
ond and Europe a rather poor third.
Another important point is that
more than half of our total trade
with Latin America came from the
West Indies, Mexico and Central
America, our zone OF trade influence
further south diminishing in mark
ed proportion to the distance of the
countries. This does not mean that
our total trade with Argentina was
not greater than with Colombia In
fact. it was nearly ten times great
er. But in proportion to the size
and economic resources Of the coun-
tries, and to their total foreign
trade, our influence Is less in the
Argentine than in Colombia, and
the competition against US distinct
ly keener.
In point Of absolute trade figures,
our trade with Argentina ranked
nrst, with Brazil q close second,
with Chile third. with Uruguay dis
placing Peru in fourth place, and
Colombia sixth. One Of the inter-
esting developments has been the
increase In South American con-
sumption Of petroleum products and
the additional exploitation of local
supplies by North American inter-
ests.
Three new steamship lines to
south America will be inaugurated
In the near future. The General
Steamship Company will maintain
regular freight services with three
steamers, the first starting April
IL from San Francisco, the next
April 2S from Puget Sound for
Ecuador, Peru and Chile. The 18TH
milan line Of the United States Steel
Corporation will inaugurate regu-
lar freight services from New Or
leans to the River Plate section on
April 10. This line already has a
regular service from New York to
the West Coast. The International
Mercantile Marine Company will
soon establish q fortnightly service
to Buenos Aires with four ships
CPEAT OBTAIN