Evening star., 1926-05-12

tablished in Argentina as distributors
of our products, and the fact that
| the great wealth of both countries
| is derived primarily from the agri-
cultural industries are at once serious
obstacles to the development Of our
trade, and at the same time to the
permanence and stability of the cham
Der as a medium for the promotion and
protection of American trade.
Bear in mind that in so far as our
most serious competitors are concern
ed these conditions are exactly re.
versed they enjoy all Of the advan-
tages of permanent merchant and
consuming populations, large invest
ments in productive enterprises, and
a we'll balanced interchange Of COM
modities such as the United States,
for many years to come at least, may
not presume to expect.
1T was in this atmosphere and
| under these conditions that the
American Chamber of Commerce in
| Argentina came into existence and
1t is against these obstacles that 1t
has fought its way to the enviable
! irus1rtun It nvids t'da: e. go Of the
most active organizations abroad for
the promotion Of American interests.
i THE work of the American
Chamber Of Commerce abroad may
| be roughly classified under these
heads: The protection of American
| interests in it's particular territory;
as an organ of publicity or propa-
ganda for American ideals, institu-
tons and policies, and. finally. the
promotion of American foreign trade,
both exports and imports.
The greatest single accomplish
ment of the Buenos Aires Chamber,
q nd Hxyhi inh oil vcfi ifxy
| its existence were any justification
| needed, came shortly after it's estab-
lishment in the dismal years that fol.
lowed the collapse of international
trade in 1920 and 1921. Careful
estimates made by the representatives
of the Bureau Of Foreign and Domes-
tic Commerce in the early months of
1921 showed that merchandise aban-
doned in the Buenos Aires custom
house, the acceptance of which had
been refused by importers in Argen.
tina, amounted at invoice value to
about $50.000,0 600. not including goods
already imported on which claims and
| disputes had arisen subsequent to
| their clearance. An immediate and
| unexpected need arose for some eff
cient method of meeting this unprec-
edented situation, especially for the
protection of those American manu-.
| facturers who had no direct repre-
sentatives in Argentina, or whose
alien agents had abandoned them in
the midst of the crisis.
Problem of Claims.
"While it is true that an admirable
arrangement existed between the
Chamber Of Commerce Of the United
States and the Argentine Bolsa de
Comercio for the arbitration of trade
disputes, no adequate machinery had
been set up to care for the avalanche
Of claims that suddenly came to light.
particularly as urgent action was i'm
perative. The American Chamber OF
Commerce stepped into the breach
and when the smoke of battle cleared
away, and the labored readjustment
to moral currents Of international
trade began, the chamber had not
only saved millions of dollars for
American manufacturers and export
ers, but had consolidated it's position
as bulwark Of American prestige and
efficiency, and redeemed the standing
Of the American exporting fraternity
which was so seriously menaced by
adverse propaganda originating with
unScrupulouS competitors. During the
year 1921, if my memory is not at
fault, the arbitration committee sue
cessfully handled and disposed Of over
$50 cases arising out of disputes be-
tween American exporters and i'm.
porters in Argentina, in addition to
several hundred surveys of merchan.
disc, many of which led to settle
ments.
THE number Of cases coming before
the arbitration committee showed a
steady decline in subsequent years,
but the experience gained during that
crucial period has left the organization
admirably equipped to handle any