Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-28
NEW PORTUGAL
is ALIVE TO HER
OPPORTUNITIES
United States Minister Says
Enterprise of Country
COmmendable.
CITES TRADE INTERESTS

WASHINGTON, March 2S.-"Portugal
Is today alive as it has not been for cen
turies," declared Col. Thomas II. Birch,
United States minister to Portugal, on
the eve of his return to his post in that
country after a two months leave of ab--
sence here, the first vacation he has en-
joyed in five years.
THE last twenty years have served to
demonstrate the fallacy of that terrific
fatalistic dogma too long widely held as
matter of national belief, that nations,
like men, are doomed irreyoeably to-
grow old, to die and to pass away.
Italy in Europe and Japan in AsiaE
are proof to the contrary The revival
Of Italy and of Japan are things of yes
terday; that Of Spain and Portugal are
true no less today. The recreation of
Portugal promises to rank her high
among those new nations to which the
war has flung wide the portals Of the
future.
PROUD OF U. S.
RELATIONS.
1T is unfortunate that we in the
United States do not know more than we
do about this worthwhile nation OF
100000 people. As conditions return TO
normal we win have the opportunity to
develop an immense trade with this re-
public because their people like and trust
US. They are proud of their association
with us in the World War, and proud
that they were able to offer us the use
of the Azores as a naval base during the
war.
War teaches geography and enforces
loyalty The United States has def
nitely entered upon that most fascinat-
ing and profitable adventure, the redis-
covery of Europe. Portugal forms one of
the bridgeheads of the Atlantic; one Of
the western portals of Europe, and its
position. is unrivaled in southwestern
Europe. The possibilities for our trade.
are almost unlimited Portugal in the
past was outside the tide. of real world
business. All that is changed. Today the
country from end to end is alive, eager
to see, to know and is ready and willing
to buy.
MARKETS OPEN
TO AMERICA.
at is well for the American business
nan who thinks of supplying she I'ortu-
guese market to remember that, though
the country is not the largest in Eu
cope. its markets are epen for all that
America has to offer and all that Ameri-
cans themselves require. There is need
for the meeting Of the primary needs
of clothing food, of tools and imple-
ments for work, machinery for develop
ment and the wants of the masses.
The people as a whole have prOspered,
their manner OF life has improved an9
their needs are consequently greateT~
There is a middle class with a growing
demand for all the Comforts and CON
veniences of full middle-class life, and
there is a wealthy. refined and highly
educated UPPER class having the taste and
J the means for the purchase of all the
! luxuries In the great cities like New
| York, London and Paris
Thus the market is wide and a widen
/ ing one. Nothing that America may have
/ to send but may here find place so long
as prices are right and the cost and
| means of transport do not render them
prohibitive, for the Portuguese people
like good things, viii have them if they
but see them, and the prepared both to
appreciate and pay for them.
LISBON AWAKENS
TO NEW LIFE.
"The fine old city of Lisbon, asleep for
years. has awakened to a new. life. In
| feverish haste, notwithstanding the pres-
| ent cost of materials and labor, a new
| Lisbon Is being run up with fine public
| buildings, hospitals, banks and ex-
changes Five new bank buildings are
under construction and more than 100
modern apartment houses are being built
to help house the rapidly increasing
population New factories have been
reared and others enlarged TO afford ia
cilites for Lisbon's growing industries.
THE San Carlos Theater, which has,
been closed since the fall of the mons
archy. recently was opened TO receive
the Pavlowa Russian Ballet Company and
even compared with the days of the
monarchy; there was a record attendance.
The opera season is proving a great sue
cess.
The Lisbon of tomorrow will be city
that shall fit the capital to once again
reassume its lost place as the finest port
of southwestern Europe, the portieo of
the peninsula, q junction for the world
trade of tomorrow with the two Americas,
| North and South, with Africa. with the
Mediterranean and with the Far East"