Evening star., 1927-11-07

ucts Is 20 overwhelming that Euro
pean firms are frankly admitting they
have given up efforts to compete.
American automobiles. farming ma
chinery, typewriters, talking machines
and many other articles are domna-
ting the South American market, ex-
cluding European competitors. Only
q few exceptions should be made,
and they would not change the gen.
eral picture.
l met several prominent German
business men who told me that in
many instances they had to fill their
stocks with American goods because
they could get them faster from the
United States than from Germany,
and that for many of them there was
no supply except from the United
States. Also. much greater credit
facilities are offered by American
firms.
Unlimited investment possibilities
are held out to American banks which
have capital Immediately available,
while Great Britain, being under the
pressure of an economic crisis at
home. cannot any more supply the
needs, as she did before the war.
American investments in Latin
America just now are estimated at
about four and half billion dollars,
80 per cent more than the tota.
OF American investments In Europe.
There is no doubt this proportion will
he increased in favor of Latin Ameri-
ca in coming years.
A large number of English indus
trial titles are being taken over by
Americans, and new financial opera
tions, even when transacted in Lon
don. as in the case of the recently
negotiated Brazilian government loan.
are carried out by American banks.
Brazil "Too Big to Eat"
In Brazil it is true, there is not
the same amount of apprehension
in regard to the growing American n
expansion as in Argentina and Chile.
Brazilians themselves say: 'The
Americans can't eat us up because
we are too big" BraZilians have
peculiar position among Latin Amer
leans because of a distinct historical
tradition and a different language,
the Portuguese. so they are more in
clined to act Independently and to
cooperate with the Colossus Of the
North"
There is common saying in
Europe that politicians and diplomats
should not act like the ostrich, stick
ing their heads into the sand. This
rule ought to be applied to the Latin
American policy of the United States.
Many of the leaders in politics and
finance / have met in South America
complained to me Of the lack Of under
standing Americans show for the
peculiarities of Latin American life.
Wrong Geographical Notions.
One of the most prominent political
leaders of Argentina said to me:
Most Americans believe that every
thing south Of the Rio Grande is hot,
everything Spanish and everything
colored. Hearing of the Fire Land, at
the farthermost southern end of the
continent, they think TERRA del Fuego
is probably the hottest spot of South
America, and that the people there
are fire eaters"'
1t would be unfair to say that this
characterization of the average geo
graphical notion of Americans is fully
justified. Great progress has been
made in recent years. Most of the
commercial travellers coming from the
States speak Spanish, and part Of
them Portuguese.
They have learned to adapt them
selves to the altogether different con-
ditions they have to meet, but in gen.
eral one must say, from the viewpoint
Of American interests, that improve.
ment Is wanted.
The two continents are by destiny