The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-08-26
GERMANS WIN IN
SOUTH AMERICA
Combine Cuts Prices 5000, Com
peIs U. S. Exporters to Bring
Merchandise Back.
.uNDERBIDDING IN BRAZIL
SHINES Is Backing War for Business,
Pliers Are Crowded With Ameri-
can Goods-Many Branches
in Liquidation.

Washington. - Surprising informa-
ton. now In the hands Of Secretary Of
Commerce Hoover, shows, it was de-
clared, the remarkable success the
German manufacturing exporters COM
bination is meeting in rebuilding the
foreign trade of their country in South
America and other fields by ousting
American business.
The effectiveness Of the German in
dustrial campaign to capture 90 per
cent Of the worlds commerce by the
time the war indemnity is liquidated
is reflected in a number Of recent re-
ports sent to Secretary Hoover by
agents of the Commerce Department.
The latest of these tell Of the disap-
pearance of American statesmen, liqui-
dations Of American branch houses
and the congestion and return to the
United States of goods piling up in
South American custom houses.
The slump in the trade of the Unit
ed States is reported to be particularly
keen in Argentina. The reason is at
tributed directly to underselling by
Germans and Belgians, who have re-
ceived large orders, particularly for
textiles, steel, paper and hardware, at
prices averaging 80 per cent below
the Americans best quotations.
A report from the governments
commercial representative at Bgenos
Aires, dated July 81, declares there
Is little prospect of placing orders for
American goods except for necessities
such as oil well equipment, railroad
supplies, textiles and office supplies.
There are few statesmen from the
United States and many American
branch houses have gone into liquida-
ton.
been congesting the custom house are
being liquidated slowly or returned to
the United States"
Undertaking by German firms is
also reported to be having deadly eff
feet in Brazil. During July forty-nine
ships brought cargoes to Rio de ia
metro. OF these five had general car
seven were from Germany.
Conditions of extreme depression
have continued during the month Of
july" declares a late report from the
commercial attache at Rio de JaneirO.
German imports have been reduced,
but the trade representatives are very
active. They continue to offer prices
20 to 70 per cent lower than those
offered by American firms, especially
on electrical goods, iron and steel
products and chemicals.
Although five important American
houses are closing their offices at Rio
de Janeiro on account of the depres-
sion, this policy does not seem to be
advisable"
These turns in the South American
commercial field are all said to be
traceable to Hugo SHINES, Germany's
picturesque industrial dictator, who is
welding all the industries Of his coun-
try in one huge machine designed to
capture the worlds commerce. More
evidence of the length of Stinnes's ac-
tivities is contained in another report
dealing with the acquisition by a Ger
man company, said to be backed by
him, of an oil concession on the coast
of Argentina about forty-ive miles
north of the famous Comodoro Riva-
davia fields. German equipment al
ready has been unloaded on the spot
and preparations for the exploitation
are stated to be going forward rapidly.
That Secretary Hoover's department
is keeping its fingers on the pulse of
Germany's huge Industrial attempts is
shown in another report recently sent
him from Berlin telling Of the large
expansion of German shipbuilding
companies during the last financial
year.
The combined capital of these TWEEN
ty-six companies is about 230,00O,0OO
marks, their loans and mortgages
about 61,0O0000 marks and reserves
about 100000 marks.