Evening star., 1921-08-21

spNnging up in South 4, America like
mushrooms. They are spreading Ameri-
can propaganda in South America and
South American propaganda in the
United States. The study of Spanish is
increasing in our public schools and COL
leges. and there are few large universi-
ties today which do not boast a course
of some sort or another in foreign trade,
with emphasis laid on South American
trade. This is having its beneficial re-
suit. for those who study Spanish learn
something of the countries where Span
ish is spoken.
No. long ago Dr. Julio Bianchi. Guate-
, Ian minister to the United States ad-
dressed group of business men in Bal
timore. He was formally introduced and
began to speak rapidly in Spanish. His
audience looked blank and the paineo
expression on the faces of his hearers
disappeared only when he paused and in
perfect English said:
Il addressed you in Spanish to demon
strate the plight Of the Spanish-speak-
ing business men who come to the
United States. ] believe that not more
than ten of YOU understood what 1 said
in Spanish. Not more than one in one
hundred business men in the United
States is able to understand the visiting
merchant who speaks only in Spanish.
l addressed YOU in Spanish to. bring
forcibly to your attention the necessity
of understanding each other in creating
better feeling, closer cooperation and
more valuable commercial relations be-
tween the United States and Latin
America.
There is language barrier between
the two great sections of our continent,
and we must exert every effort TO batter
down this barrier by increasing the use
of Spanish in the United States. A
start has been made In my country,
where. as in most of Latin America. the
study of English in the high schools and
cnl1aOaC g
compulsory"
Many Injured by Few.
Every American firm which goes
out unprepared to create trade in
South America and without an un-
derstanding of the South American
business man creates trouble for his
fellow countryman. For the mis-
takes of the few, many must suffer.
For the South American has a bad
taste left in his mouth when he is
''stung" by the illegitimate trick of
an American, and the next American
who comes along has his hands fnll
in bringing him arc:inc.
What is the remedy? How Is the
legitimate and painstaking Ameri-
can exporter to be protected?
The only real remedy is education.
not only in the much advertised
teaches the American business man
how to dispose of his products in
the southern continent, but also in
the real an-Americanistn,' which
means a sympathetic, helful under
standing between the races who live
in the western hemisphere.
One hears lot of South America
these days. More of South America
will be heard in the future. There
lies field for untold development.
Forces for Better Understanding.
Such agencies as the Pan-American
Union, the United States Chamber of
Commerce, the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce of the Depart
ment of Commerce, the Southern Com
mercial Congress. countless CONNER
cial bodies. the Rockefeller Founda-
ton and the Carnegie Institution are
doing their part in bringing the Latin
American before the eyes OF the
American, showing him as friend
to be cultivated and valued.
And here in Washington. in the en-
bassies and legations of the Latin
American republics, there lies a tre-
mendous force for creating better un-
derstanding and friendship between
northern and southern America. The
representatives of South America
come here with an opportunity for
any one who will take 1t. They are
ready and willing to present this op-
portunity: they are patient and palms.
saking to explain 1t. One wonders
iometimes why they have not grown
tired. lost their patience with a peo-
|zple who SO slowly realise what they
have to o9er.