Evening star., 1921-07-10
BY BEN McKELwAY.
Its leadership in Latin Amer
lean trade despite increasing

TINE United Staten will retain
its leadership in Latin Amer
lean trade despite increasing
competition from European
countries anxious to regain their
commercial losses in South America
during the war. according to DR..
Julius Klein. recently appointed chief
Of the bureau OF foreign and domes-
tic commerce. A new era in our
trade relationship with South Amer
lea 10 opening. DR.. Klein believes.
There are new situation to be dealt
with: new problems to be overcome.
but the American business man, shown
the way by a sympathetic government.
10 going to shape his new policy to
the need Of the times.
The war brought changes in South
America. Cut of from outside sup
plies. depending on her own resources.
new industries were created to
develop them. new fields were opened.
and the armistice found closed mar
ket in many Of the republics which
formerly welcomed supplies and help
from the outside.
The problem. or one of the big prob
lens, which the United States now
premacy in Latin America is to study
the changes wrought by the war and
adapt its commercial relationship to
meet the changes. Where the Ameri-
can exporter once found a market for
shoes. for example. he will find today
problem Is to help the South American
to make his shoes by selling him bet
ter shoe machinery instead Of moping
over protective tariff set up to pro-
tect the infant, competing shoe indus
try.
The bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce 10 going to lead the way
trade relationship with South Amer
lea There is now under way a wide
survey. which takes in the principal
countries of Latin America. directed
toward obtaining the latest data on
economic changes brought about in
the southern republics by the war.
Infant industries born during the war
will be tabulated. with information
showing how new trade can be de-
veioped by their birth. The bureau
will seek to help those industries and
develop the good will and respect Of
pointing the way for increased trade
to the exporters of the United States.
DR.. Klein Is an expert on South
American trade and has long been a
student and writer on South Ameri-
can affairs. He believes. with others
who have watched the trend of our
foreign commerce. that the, war
makes the development OF trade with
South America a necessity. And with
this in view he intends to reorcanize
and to enlarge the Latin American
division of the bureau to meet the
new field which is rapidly opening
A number of trade commissioners
now in South America are to be
brought back to the United States to
assist in the divisions work. This
have been to the bureau men who
have been in the field Of operations.
who know the situation and who can
offer advice from personal experience.
This step alone, it is believed. will
be an important one in the program
OF reorganization.
Although much has been said concern
ing the looming danger of Germany's
commercial activities in South America.
DR.. Klein is of the opinion that Ger
mapy's strength is overestimated. Lit
tie Is to be feared by her competition.
he believes. The decrease in value of
the German mark. which has been ad-
vantaeeous to the South American
business man. Is a temporary factor
only. II Is pointed out. and IL German
trade increases. the mark will naturally
gain in value. Germany's raw products
are limited. and she soon will be put to
it to find new sources Of supply. The
long time credit offered by Germany's
commercial agents is losing value In the
sight of the South American. DIR. Klein
believes. The short-time credit (which