Evening star., 1921-06-05
BY BEN MckELwAY.

BY BEN MckELWAY.
TINE United States government.
through its Post Office Depart
ment, is going to steal a march
on Europe and make a bid for
South American trade. at the second
pan-American postal conference to be
held in August at Rio de Janeiro. Pro-
vided the plans OF the Post Office De-
partment are successful. one OF the big
gest single steps toward developing and
encouraging greater commercial inter-
course between the republics of the
western hemisphere will be taken when
conventions are. signed. the purpose of
which. roughly described, will be to
lower existing rates on mail and parcels
carried between the countries OF North.
Central and South America
The Pan-American Postal Congress is
held under provisions in the universal
postal convention which permit coun-
tries conveniently located geographically
to combine in a more restricted or closer
postal union. by which they may extend
to the citizens of the member countries
reduced rates Of postage and more lib
eral conditions applying to mail matter
exchanged between such countries.
y y \
The congress in Rio de Janeiro was
scheduled for August. 1920. but as such
gatherings follow by custom a universal
Madrid. Spain, in October last year. the
Pan-Amerfcan congress was postponed
until this year. The first Pan-American
Postal Congress was held in .Montevideo
in 1911. and was attended by delegates
from ten Of the Latin American coun-
fFiA ynr fof fNr tho
however. have been sent to all the Latin
American countries. and universal at
tendance is expected. The United States
will send two delegates.
The attention Of the next Congress
will be directed to making certain
| changes and notifications in the con-
ventions signed at Montevideo, and
will doubtless consider the treaties
agreed upon a Madrid last fall be-
| tween the United States. Spain. Bo-
Peru. Cuba and the Dominican Re
public. The latter convention pro-
vides for the extension of the do
mestic rate on letters. postal cards
and newspapers and periodical publ
cations of the second class. It fur
ther extends the size and weight and
| reduces the postage on packages
mailed between member countries.
1t is hoped to extend the general
| provisions of this convention, with GER
| tain notifications, to all the countries
of. Latin America, so that the. .Ameri-
can exporter will be able to send his
catalogue. letter or. package to some
far-oH village in South America at
the same rate he now pays for simi-
lar articles mailed to cities in the
United States.
Postmaster General Hays has seen
the possibilities for developing
greater intercourse between the coun-
tries OF Latin America and the
alizes the closer relations in friend
ship. which will follow any step to
facilitate exchanges between the re-
publics of this hemisphere. The Post
/ master General has suggested that
chambers Of commerce in the United
REPRESENTATIVES to the congress al
Rio de Janeiro to cooperate with the
oficial delegates from the United
States in bringing about new posta
agreements. So far there has beer
wide interest in Mr.. Hays plan. and
his. suggestion probably will be fol
j!owed.
The need for an advantageous pos
Ital agreement with the countries o
lIatin America is increasing. Europ'
is striving to win back trade takei
by the United States during the war
iresult. The Latin American bushes
iman. it is said. is comparatively ig
lnorant of American business methods
land his education in this respect is con
sidered essential il trade relations are t.
So far there has been no reductio,
lin nostal rates between Europe an,
1.-THE countries OF Latin America. !
distinct advantage over the European
exporter will, be gained by American
business men should the reduced rate
land weight and size extensions ol
Ina ackages between the United State
land Latin American countries b.
laEreed to lat the Buenos Aires con
lference.
| Proposals in this line which tn
limited States will present to tn
Latin, American delegates at the con
ference now are being prepared unde
the supervision of the division o
foreign mails of the Post Office De
partment.
| Sebastiao. Sampaio., Brazilian com
imercial attache for the United States
iCanada, Mexico and Cuba. has return
ed from Brazil. where he went Wit
iformer Secretary Of State Colby las
jDecember.
Mr.. Sampaio's trip was largely de
!yoted to addressing gatherings o
south American business men AM
trade ORGANIZATIONS on questions re
llating to commercial relations be