The Winslow mail., 1923-08-17
COMMERCE CHIEFS
LOOK SOUTHWARK
OFFICIALS OF DEPARTMENT
NOW TURN THEIR ATTENTION
TO LATIN-AMERIcA.
SEE TRADE CHANCES THERE
Promotion Work in Central and South
America in Behalf of Our Exporters
is Being Expanded-Commissi
at Strategic Points,
BY EDWARD q. CLARK


WashingtOn.-With exports to Eu-
rope declining as industries of the
war-stricken countries get back on
their feet, Department of Commerce
officials are impressed with the oppor
tunity of American business men to
increase their trade with Latin-Amer-
lea.
Increased money available for the
bureau of foreign and domestic COM
merce of the Department of Com
merce on July 1 has given an oppor-
tunity for expanding the promotion
work on behalf of American export
ers, which is being done in Central
and South America.
Exactly twice as much money Is to
be available for the fiscal year just
commenced for promoting commerce
with South and Central America as
the bureau had for this purpose in
the fiscal year 1919-20. The new ap-
preparation for this one purpose is
100000. Secretary Of Commerce
Hoover recommended to the budget
bureau an appropriation Of $250,0O0
for this purpose, but the budget direc-
tor cut the sum to 100000, which
met with the approval of congress.
This amount, besides being twice as
great as the sum available in 191" 10,
represents an increase of $3.50 over
the appropriation for promoting COM
merce with South and Central Amer
lea the last fiscal year.
Men at Strategic Points.
When arrangements are completed
in the expanded work in Latin-Amer-
lea, the bureau of foreign commerce
will have men stationed at ten or q
dozen strategic points. 1t has been
planned to open new Office at
Bogota, Colombia. Carlton Jackson
has been assigned as trade commits
sioner to take charge Of the work at
that point. Mr.. Jackson also will ad-
wise the bureau as to feasibility Of
opening an Office in Venezuela.
Trade Commissioner P. L. Bell Is
being sent to make a special survey
of markets for American goods in Por-
to Rico. Greater opportunities for
American business men are to be
found in Porto Rico, officials Of the
bureau believe, than Is generally sup
posed.
From Porto Rico Mr.. Bell will go
to various Central American points.
nambuco, Brazil. This office will be
under the general direction Of the
commercial attache at Rio de JaneirO.
Another new point to be reached by
agents Of the Department Of Com
merce is MontevideO, Uruguay, where
man from the Buenos Aires office
will be sent at frequent intervals.
Seven regular officers have been
maintained in Central and South
America the last year. Commercial
attaches are stationed at Havana,
Cuba; Mexico City, Mexico; Santiago,
Chile; Rio de JaneirO, and Buenos
Aires, Argentina.
Trade commissioners are stationed
in Peru and Colombia. These existing
offices are to be strengthened by the
addition Of minor employees.
Europeans Active.
The commercial attaches and trade
commissioners now In Latin-America
are making reports of activity dis
played by European competitors of
the United States. In spite of this
activity, Doctor Klein, in analyzing
the latest figures on exports and i'm
ports, points out that there is ade-
quate and convincing evidence of the
steady Improvement of inter-Ameri-
can trade in both directions. Exports
from the United States to Latin-Amer-
lea were $56,624,659 for the month of
May, as against $41 1,539,571 for May,
1922, or an increase of SO per cent.
Exports for the II months ending in
May totaled S540,560,947, as COM
pared with $453, 137, ,O39 for the cor
responding period of the previous
year, or an increase of 10 per cent
There is a general improvement in
ness men in Latin-America, Doctor
Klein points out, because of the more
favorable export market for Latin
American raw materials and better
prices obtained. Prices have been
more favorable for sugar, hides, wool
and other products Of Central and
South America than previously, and
greater buying power in Argentina
and Chile is made possible by larger
shipments of linseed from the former
country and nitrates from the latter
The more favorable market for
Latin-American raw materials is
shown by the record of imports into
the United States. which amounted in
May to $116,5O9,336, as compared with
ST., ,461 ,297 in May, 1922, or an in
crease of 56 per cent For the IL
months ending in May, imports into
the United States from Latin-America
amounted to $934, ,822, $40, as against
1892, ,171,913 in the corresponding
period of the previous year, or a gain
Of 81 per cent.
To Explore Colorado River Canyon.
Col. G. a. Birdseye, chief topograph-