Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
In LATIN AMERICA
By CASTOR NERVAL.

Latin American trade were quite re-
Versed as compared to those prior to
the World War. The former furnished
only about 16 per cent of the total
Latin-American import trade, while the
latter's contribution increased to 81 per
cent.
To this change Of commercial leader
/ ship in Latin America from John Bull
to Uncle Sam many factors have con-
tributed. Among these may be cited
the construction of the Panama Canal,
the difference in conditions brought
about by the World War, the continue
Gus inves ment OF American capital in
the Southern continent, the steady de-
V5lopment of agriculture, mines and
other industries in the Latin countries,
their increase in purchasing power and
their ever-growing demand for foreign
manufactured goods, most of which are
produced in this country.
ON TO RECONQUEST.
Before sending her greatest salesman
to the rescue of her South American
trade Great Britain sent last year a
commission of experts and commercial
agents. headed by Lord DAbernon, ia
nous British economist and the first
ambassador England sent to Germany
after the war This commission studied
economic conditions in Argentina, Uru-
quay and Brazil, made several contacts
with Argentine interests, offered a loan
to the Argentine government, secured
the lowering OF certain tariff rates on
British products, and then, back in
England, recommended commercial
exhibition TO be opened in Buenos
Aires.
The idea of promoting this exhibition
auto ffoo 1INrR hat he
accommodations originally contracted
for had to be doubled, and the British
government trebled its original contribu-
ton to the project.
A final element of success has now
been added to the British Empire Trade
Exhibition of Buenos Aires with the an
nouncement that his royal highneSs the
Prince of Wales himself will open the
exhibit amid spectacular and colorful
ceremonies. British statesmen do not
ignore the value of psychological reac-
ton in putting over their economic
projects.
The trip of the British heir is only
another step, and very important one
in an earnest and intelligent campaign
of the Island Empire to regain her lost
commercial supremacy in Latin America.
The British have realized the ire
mendous value which the South Ameri-
can markets represent to their decreaS-
! ing export trade, and they are resolved
| to fight for 1t to the end. They will not
give up until they have played their best
cards. They now are playing an ace in
sending down their chief salesman in
person to put over" the huge trade
exhibit in Buenos Aires.
Thus, with the same zeal with which
they dispute naval superiority or the
possession Of greater oil and rubber con-
cessions in the world, John Bull and
Uncle Sam will soon find themselves
engaged in a new and more vital COM
| petition-that for the control Of the
Latin American trade.
IDEAL CUSTOMERS.
The Latin-American market unques-
| tionably will play a most important
part in the future commercial relations
of the world. 1t includes 20 countries
| of vast natural resources, of ineXhauSt1-
BILE wealth. And practically all of them
are just beginning to develop their own
! industries. They are countries which
on the one hand have been until now
hardly exploited, and on the other hand
have not as yet industries sufficiently
developed to satisfy their own ever
| growing needs.
They constitute, then, an excellent
field for both the investment of capital
and the consumption of foreign manu-
featured goods. They possess everything
that could be desired in an ideal mar
ket. They have money, raw materials,
and the means with which to guarantee
investments and welcome capital and
| imported products.
Many are the circumstances that
| favor European commerce in Latin
America. The countries south of%the
Rio Grande are of European origin.
Settled and coloniZed for centuries by
European powers, they still preserve by
historical tradition and cultural ties a
natural tendency toward the old CONT
nent. Latin American culture Is more
| identified with European arts and let
! tiers than it is with eSaxon-American