Evening star., 1920-03-22
DECLARE MEXICO
IS FERTILE FIELD
FOR BROAD TRADE
Speakers at Conference
Agree, However, That U. S.
Must Revise Its Methods.

MEXICO CITY, March (Corre
spondence of the Associated Press).-
Local newspapers refer to the United
States Mexican trade conference which
recently closed it's sessions here as of
''transcendent Importance" and pre-
dict that as a result there will be
"cloSer relations between the two re-
publics, better understanding and
mutual amity." They express the hope
that this conference will be made an
annual affair.
That Mexico is a fertile field for
American trade expansion was ad-
mitted by all speakers. and all agreed
that if the United States is to get its
share of business there must be a re-
vision of its trade methods. A point
insisted upon by persons acquainted
with the country was that the cash
in advance" policy must be abandoned
or at least modified. Germany and
considered the principal commercial
competitors, are liberal with their
credits, it was declared. and Latin
temperament does not take kindly to
policy that even hints at personal
dishonesty.
Banks Are Scored.
American banks were severely scored
during the discussion for an alleged
lack of cooperation with American
exporters in the matter of credits and
other accommodations that might
facilitate business. Representatives of
these banks declared in defense that
there was no disposition to discrim-
mate. and that a suitable credit stand
ing is all that is necessary
F. w. Dunkerley local banker and
representative of the American Bank
ers' Association, said that Mexican
IN the United States, Europe, China
and Japan, and that a system of trade
acceptances is being worked out He
urSed larger American investments
The The opportunity is here he de-
some one is going to furnish the
necessary capital. We hope it will be
largely American"
Agents Should Speak Spanish.
Prospective advertisers in the re-
PUBIC were given many helpful hints
by merchants here. all of them COM
phnenting the newspapers upon their
general reliability and worth.
Send representatives to Mexico
who speak the language-Spanish -
was another injunction impaired by
many speakers. The reason Germany
is strong here" declared one, "is be-
cause every business man who comes
here speaks Spanish as fuently as
his native tongue, He has been edu9
Gated to understand the people; he
lives as they do and he more than
any other foreigner marries into
MeXIcan families. Moreover he has
one business policy that few Ameri-
can firms follow He fills an order
exactly as it is given.
Object to Substitutes.
One of the principal objections
Mexicans find with American firms is
their consistent substitution with
something just as good That cou-
pied with harsh credit system makes
entry difficult"
The conference did little formal
business An address by John !.
Arnold of San Francisco. representing
the American Bankers Association.
in which he advocated the calling of
an international banking conference
and the establishment of an interna
tional clearing house. resulted in the
appointment of committee to draft
resolution indorsing this sentiment.
The committee. however, failed to
| report. Another resolution which
lacked formal sanction provided for
| a system of exchange of students. be-
tween American and Mexican uni
| versities