Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
III. s. RAPIDLY. TAKING LEAD
In LATIN AMERICAN TRADE.
Changes Since War Significant in View
Of Sharp Competition and Handi- :
caps Favoring England.

about by the World War; the contin-
uous investment of American capital In
the Southern continent; the steady de-
velopment of agriculture, mines and
other industries in the Latin American
countries; their increase In purchasing
power and their ever-growing demand
for foreign manufactured products.
Before the World War, 1t was ar
everyday thing to hear of the eco
ncmic supremacy of Great Britain in
Latin America. Especially the greater
markets, such as Argentina, Brazil.
Chile, Peru, were wholly controlled by
the British commerce. The United
States was then considered secondary
in importance. The expectations Of
this country to Argentina, Chile, Bra
I'll, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay amounted
to less than one-third of those of Great
Britain and Germany. BY means of
their enormous investments and extern
sive banking and sales organizations,
Great Britain and Germany complete
ly controlled those markets. Besides
the British were in possession Of the
cable system, and the American ex-
porters we're dependent upon the Eng
lish and German steamers for the
transportation OF their products TO
South America. t
American Interests Gain. ~
Things have undergone quite
change. There are American banking
institutions. American cables and in
Vulnerable trade representatives of this
country in Latin America. The in
yestments Of United States capital have
been increasing considerably, so that
Today they amount to about four and
one-half or flve billion dollars
The service Of the American Mer-
chant Marine mas also improved. For
every 1000 tons of American cargo
ships calling at the ports of Brazil, for
instance, in 1918, there were more than
$4,000 tons in 1926. And in that same
period the British and German ton
mage entering Brazilian ports decreased
% per cent. From the aggregate total
of the importations of the Latin Amer
lean republics in 1927 the correspond
ing figures of the United States and
Great Britain show an eloquent change
If they are compared with those of
1913. In 1918 the total importation of
the 20 Latin republics amounted to
81 ,597 200 ,000 while in 1927 1t amounted
to $2,311. 100000. an increase of IS per
cent. OF that total the United States
furnished $336.748, 900, or "a per cent,
in 1913, ranking second to the British
Empire, which sold approximately $685.
099. 900, or Is per cent. In 1927 the
standings of the United States and
Great Britain we're quite reversed, for
while the former furnished 81 per cent.
the latter decreased to Is per cent of
the total sales to Latin America.
With respect to the Latin American
expectations. the United States likewise
took the lead In 1913 this country
imported 29.S per cent and Great Brit
| ain 20.7 per cent of the total exporta-
tons. In 1927 the proportion of the
United States increased to 35.1 per
cent, while that of Great Britain de-
creased II per cent. Thus. in 1927
the United States not only sold a great
er amount of commodities to Latin
America than Great Britain, Germany
purchased more Latin American prod
ucts than the three nations combined.
Prior to the World War the United
States controlled half of the total i'm
portations of Mexico, while during the
past year this increased to 81 per cent.
In Central America this proportion has
increased in favor of the United States
from So per cent to So per cent, and
in the West Indies from SIS to 81 per
cent. The United States is at the
present time purchasing more than half
of the total expectations of Mexico,
Colombia. Cuba, Nicaragua and Hon.
duras, and her total expenditures on
Latin American products amount to
81 .100, 100000 per annum.
These are very eloquent figures And
they serve to prove the passing of John
Bulls economic hegemony. in Latin
America. Still more eloquent are those
showing the sales of these two countries
to the main Latin American markets
in 1912 and 1926
In 1912 Great Britain sent to Ar
In 1912 the United states sent to '1'' '''''f'
In isss Great Britain sent to Ar $3.50
In 1926 the United states sent TO -o'o's' g
In isis Great Britain, sent to 1''is''pO
Brazil ,........... 12.s57.s5o
Brazil ..,.....e.,;. -. s.sos.sco
In 1925 the United states sent to i''''O'1o'
In 1879 Great Britain, sent to chile sissis5
In 1912 the United States sent to
In 1926 Great Britain sent to chile sS4G.sSs
In 1925 the United States sent to
In 1912 Great Britain sent to Peru. 25i7,30s
p isss ei:s: Britain sent to Peru 3 3sss sTs
In 1926 the United States sent to
The above table is an evident proof
of the enormous decrease suffered by
| Great Britain"s commerce In Latin
America since the pre-war period as
| compared with recent statistics.
However, it appears as though within
the next few months Great Britain
might recover some of her lost COM
mercial standing. This because certain
| Latin American countries are somewhat
dissatisfied with the proposed policy Of
high tariffs on their products. Deeply
resenting this attitude, which is being
used as means of protecting the ma
tional industries. Latin America threat
ems again to look upon Europe, thus en-
couraging the lost economic supremacy
\ of John Bull. The tariff question is
destined to play most important part
| In the commercial relations between
+! this country and the Latin republics.
| A typical example Is that of Cuba
4 In 1922, the tariff on Cuban sugar, the
main industry of the island, was In
creased nearly 100 per cent. AS a re.
| suit, that republic suffered a general
economic depression and conseQuently
her purchasing power diminished con-
siderably. Since then, Cuba has stopped
being Uncle Sans principal buyer II,
Latin America. And NOTWITHSTANDING
this, an additional increase Of IL per
cent on the Cuban sugar Is n0ts beine
proposed. Every attempt at increasing
the tariffs on Latin American products
would be IN some measure prejudicial
to the United States commercial reia.
tons with the countries south Of the
Rio Grande.
tcopyrisht, 1890
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III nndnn Hazel D....L