The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-04
OPPORTUNITY IS
OPEN TO SOUTH

Norfolk, Va, March 30.-That the
south now has an extraordinary OPP
.portunity before it in Pan American
trade was emphasized at the annual
banquet of the North Carolina Pine
Association, Hotel Monticello. tonight
by John Barrett, director general of
the. Pan American Union and former
United States Minister to- Argentina,
Columbia and Panama. He pointed
out that the present situation is one
that demands the closest attention
and wise action of the exporting, I'M
porting and general manufacturing
and financial interests of the South,
and that unless they are up and doing
they may be distanced in the compe-
tition by the corresponding interests
of the North and Central West. He
said, in part:
1T is of the highest importance
that the representative manufacturing
interests of the South like this asso-
citation should grasp the meaning Of
our present Pan American opportun-
ity. Without trying to be sensational
but simply giving warning, 1 would
emphasize that the Pan American
trade of the United States is now ex-
periencing the most critical period OF
its history. The developments of the
next twelve months may determine
whether the United States is going
to continue and enlarge the immense
Pan American commerce 1t built up
before and during the war or permit
it to stand still or decrease in the
face of renewed European and Asiatic
competition.
I'm the last fiscal year before the
war broke out, 1884, the value of
the Pan American commerce OF the
United States Appropriated eight
hundred millions of dollars (sS00. 000,-
O00.) During the four years of the
war this jumped to a total beyond
two billions of dollars (s2, 900. 900, OoOO
This vast increase was largely due to
the complete absence of several large
European trading countries from the
field and the greatly lessened capacity
Of other countries to care for II. Now
all these countries are rapidly coming
back and are leaving no step neglected
to recover their lost trade and even
TO GUST the United States from the
new position it gained during the war
Whether the Unitew States Will hold
it's own in the face of this competl-
ton will depend almost entirely upon
the action of the exporting, importing,
financial and shipping interests OF the
United States, including those of the
south.
Certain imperative steps must De
taken right away to continue, pro-
tect and enlarge the big trade we
already have in the face OF fast grow
ing European and Asiatic competition.
We must remember that European and
Asiatic countries have just as mHcn
right in the field as we have and that
we are not going to hold the leaoer-
ship on any sentimental GROUNDS
The whole question is now going 10
be one of ability to care for marke'
which has enormous potentIalltles pu'
AZ the moment is handicapped py ne"
| most bellum conditions. The interests
| in the northeastern and central West
e,-n sections of the United states thaI
have a great capital and trade inVolVeu
are awakening to the dangers OF tne
| hour: now let those OF the south W
| the same.
1.-THE principal things that must no"
| he done by the combined cooperatlol
of the government and people OF 1ne
United states, including particular y
the south. in view or what IL mas .
stake. are the following:
/. Every effort must be made 1or she
| establishment or extension Oh aue
ouate steamship lines, not only %
i freight carriers, but Of fast passenger.
exnress and mail vessels between no.
| only the northern Atlantic pul tns
! southern Atlantic aid Gulf ports q
| the United States, on the one hahu
and the Caribbean. Atlantic ana IA
| cific ports of Latin America. W.
he absolutely impossible to hold ano
| t,,,,,a nm the trade of the United
states. and particularly the SOUTH now
without this being done. The extra