New-York tribune., 1920-05-26
Spain Offers Best
Trade Opportunity
For u. S., Is Belief
n. A. Mathews, Home From
European Trip, Finds Ev-
idence of Prosperity in
Southwestern Peninsula

r. A. Mathews, vice-president of the
irving National Bank. returning from a
.sn weeks visit to England, France and
the Spanish peninsula, declared yester-
5av that Spain offers the best oppor-
.nnity in Europe to-day for the ex-
tension Of American foreign trade.
~The people have money! said Mr..
Mathews, "and are making more. The
roantrv is willing to buy, and il has
manufactured articles as we'll as agri-
rultural products to sell. Moreover, the
demand is for high-class goods.
The war was she great factor in the
Development Of industry. Until 1914
spain was an agricultural country. The
rTofts made from the fields and the
Vineyards were invested abroad. The
Spanish capitalist was inclined to lack
faith in the value of his home indus
tres. Daring the war. however, Spain
was called upon TO furnish supplies to
ether nations in way she never had
done before. AS a neutral, she traded
both with the Allies and with Germany.
The American Evolutionary Forces
bought large quantities of material
from Spain, so much, in fact, that in
1918 the American dollar declined in
value Until We had 70 arrange a gov
erment credit TO continue our purchases.
Moreover. with the severance of the
customary sources of supply in MANY
lines the Spanlards had to manufacture
many things which they had been ac-
customed to buy from abroad.
IN consequence. home manufactures
fourished. The Spanish capitalist took
notice, ana instead of sending mis-
money abroad ne began putting It into
undertakings IN his own country. Now
L. Y.
SIMPLE financial backing.
Industrial development" contnned
Gr. Mathews, has been accompanied
By marked activIty in other lines. In
every large city building is being CON
Quoted on an extensive scale, princi pally
ior new office buildings and factories.
While the Spanlard, &c his sorrow, has
specu.ated heavily in deprecated for
elgn cGrrencleS, his war profits far ex-
eseded any losses ne may have had. and
bis credit IS still unimpaired.
ut IS foolish for American business
houses TO 60 20 Spain and open IN
branches now with purely American
staffs. Business there is done TO great
extent on q basis of personal friend
snip. The better plan is for the Amer
lean urm 10 establish connections with
reliable Spanish house TO act as its
HSSt.s7 ~ e. "a ol4oi agencies managed
jointly by Spaniards and Americans
American business has been some
What discredited in Spain as a result
q the tact,cs pursued by some OF our
firms which sent agents there ready to
promise almost anything. Apparently
the firms expected small orders. In
stead, they received large ones, which
they did no. fill, either because the
orders were 100 large or because the
home market was so good they did not
consider the shipments worth the effort.
IN con,seq the Spanish importers
are sAepIca- OF all American houses
except those which thev know. Thev
DO NOT want to see representatives from
American fly bynight' concerns. Such
men can obtain no business in Spain
and american regulations will suffer
from their activities.
Myriad business opportunities call
= American importers. and it should
be We worth their while to send ca
laole. repre sentatives to Spain to study
the situation"