Evening star., 1922-07-16
by BEN MeKELwAY.
\oMMERcIAL America, was as

W
[ COMMERCIAL America was as
ri sured of adequate represen-
4 tation at the Brazilian Cen
tennial Exposition in Rio de
Janeiro next fall, and incidentally
! one OF the big handicaps under which
the Brazilian centennial commission
has been working was removed. when
| construction was begun in Rio Hast
! week on a building which will be
given over entirely to industrial ex-
hibits entered by United States Arms
doing business in South America.
The S1,000,000 appropriated by Con-
gress for the Braxilian centennial
| commission to expend on a suitable
building and exhibits from the United
| States does not allow for exhibits by
! private FIRMS So far as the govern
ment was concerned. only the activi-
| ties OF the United States government
would be represented in Brazil, de-
spite the fact that foreign govern
| ments appropriated funds to cover
the expense of private Industrial ex-
hibits entered by. business houses. In
order to guarantee American busi-
ness an adequate representation, a
! company was formed in New York
| recently and last week construction
| was begun on an American Indus
trial Exhibition Building. AS the
Brazilian government will recognize
| no exhibits which are not officially
| sanctioned by the participating gov
! ernments. Col. D. 6. Collier. commits
sioner general OF the Brazilian CEN
| tennial commission. has requested
] 70
| American Industrial exhibition. and a
| favorable reply is expected within a
few days.
Space Already Taken.
! The space in the American indus
trial building has been virtually taken
| up already by a number of well known
| business firms in the United States,
| who are seeking to build up their
trade in the southern continent Their
entries are expected to compare favor
ably with those of European concerns.
which are said to be taking a keen
! interest in the Brazilian exposition
| as means of forwarding their South
| American interests.
The erection of the American in
dustrial building by rrivte enterprise
Is considered a happy solution to a
| rather difficult problem which pre-
sented itself at the outset to Amer
ican officials in charge of the United
States representation at the exposi-
tion. With no authority and lacking
the necessary funds to provide for
exhibits by American business houses
| the Brazilian commission was un-
able to offer competition In this re-
spect with foreign governments. But
with the financing undertaken by
American business men, backed by
this obstacle has been overcome.
U. 8. Navy to Send Fleet.
Another interesting development
last week In connection with Ameri-
can representation at the exposition
was the unomcial assurance given to
the commission from officials of the
Navy Department that a way would
| be found to send q feet to Rio de
Janeiro which will compare more than
| favorabiy with any other naval repre-
sentation. 1t is considered likely that
| the Maryland, which represents the
| structicn. accompanied by at least two
other first-line battleships, will mike
| the trip. taking with them a con-
tingent of American marines who will
camp on the exposition grounds
throughout the exposition. The ex-
pense of the cruise probably will be
borne jointly by the Navy Depart
| The feet will in all probability carry
| the American commissioners who Will
represent the United States at the
opening of the exposition, remain