Evening star., 1930-05-04


cial relations between the United
States and Argentina offer the best
proof of the spirit of understanding
- and cooperation which exists be-
tween them. In the present-day international
life. the economic factor is much more express
sive than diplomatic diScourses or the set
phrases of politicians.
Ours is an age of figures and numbers. The
life of peoples, like that of individuals. is today
dominated by economic factors. Commercial
statistics give the true measures of interna-
tional relations. And these statistics, as re-
spects the economic bonds between Uncle Sam
and Argentina, could not be more satisfactory.
The total trade between the United States
and Argentina last year reached total OF
about 1927, 900 900, and the exports from this
country amounted to $210, ,288,027, the southern
republic being at present the most important
market in this continent for United States
manufactures, after Canada. Also with the
one exception of Canada, Argentina is the
largest purchaser Of American automobiles in
the world. While before the World War ex-
ports from the United States to Argentina were
but II per cent of the total foreign purchases
of that country. or $72,458,00O. thus taking
second place after Great Britain, the United
States now occupies first place by considerable
margin supplying over IS per cent of the total.
Last year Argentina bought in the United
States some 900 worth Of automobiles,
$4,000 900 worth of motor trucks and buses,
$40 900 900 worth of gasoline and naphtha So
0O0, 900 worth of industrial machinery, 10000
600 worth of manufactured cotton, etc.
A the same time, the Argentine comes Sec
ond as a source Of supply for the United
States. Only Brazil sells to the United States
greater amount Of raw materials than Ar
gentina. Last year Uncle Sam bought Argentine
products to the value of about $117.000. 900.
Although Great Britain and Germany purchase
more from Argentina than does the United
States, since this country produces in abundance
the agricultural products which constitute the
principal exports of Argentina, the position of
the United States has changed considerably in
the past Is years. Before the World War the
United States used to take about As per cent
Of the total of Argentina's exports; In 1928 she
took almost 10 per cent The greater part Of
these purchases is composed Of two products.
with which this country supplies herself almost
entirely from the southern republic; daxSeed
which she bought in 1929 to the value OF $44.-
195.819, and cattle hides which were bought
in 1928 to q value of 32381 000 Aside from
these two products, the United States imported
from the Argentine large quantities Of canned
meats, furS, casein, quebracho extract, que
bracho logs, wool, etc.
Besides these statistics, which reveal the i'm
portance of the trade relations of the two ma
tions, it is interesting to note that the United
States has investments in the Argentine totaling
about $600y000y000, according to estimates Of
the Department of Commerce In Washington.
These investments are composed Of govern
ment provincial and municipal bonds, banks.
public utilities industrial and railway securities,
etc. A surprising fact in respect to these in
vestments Of capital is that in 1918 the United
States had invested in Argentina scarcely
$4,000 900.
or all the countries of Latin-America the one
-. which most resembles the United States,
geographically as well as economically, is the
Argentine. It's extension from north to south
takes IN practically all climatic zones. from
the subtropical Of the north to the cold-tem-
perate of the south. Its principal port, Buenos
Aires is situated on the east coast. and is the
most important gateway to the interior Of the