Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-20
Rivals for Argentine Trade
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
the sellers when the price Is not ON a
boom basis. Just what effect the new
British tariffs may have remains to be
seen.
Other American Industries.
But before We examine the trade
with England and America, let us look
at other American industries in the
Argentine. The telephone systems in
Buenos Ayres and three Of the princi-
pal provincial cities Of Argentina are
owned and operated by Americans. The
same interests share in the ownership
Of the International Radio Co. of
Argentina and sell quantities Of cleo
trical equipment through the Argentine
Standard Electric Co.
Light and power, which often in
cludeS tramway service, are furnished
to many of the larger Argentine COM
munities by American companies.
Buenos Aires has subways built by
Americans which, so far as appear
ances go. might be pieces Of the New
York system scrubbed up and set down
In the Argentine.
The streets Of every Argentine city
arc ONCI Will NLldL dLCr az DOLiOIIli
American motor cars. AT bottom" be-
cause, especially in the case Of taxicabs
the chassis are American, while the
bodywork Is Argentine. American taxi
cab styles are too simple for Argentine
taste. This demands fancy bodies with
innumerable gargoyles, cut glass or
etched windows, lace curtains and
other refinements. But the chassis, in
81 per cent of the cases, Is good old
reliable Michigan.
At Avelleneda, on the outskirts OF
Buenos Aires, a huge motor car plant
adds to the prestige and sales Of Gen
eral Motors, and Ford holds his usual
share of the business.
These items will serve as q sample of
the widespread American activity in
the Argentine business world. Direct
investments account for $425 900. 600
just about half of our total stake in the
country.
Represented by Able Men.
Generally speaking, American busi-
ness has outlived its Shirtsleeved ado
lescence 1t Is represented by able men
who have learned consideration for the
Argentine sensibilities because they had
to or lose out to their British rivals,
If for no other reason. And in return
they are treated with fairness and cour-
tesy except where exceptional circum-
stances precipitate special difficulties.
On one occasion American business
as O whole was given plainly to under
stand that If it did not secure a re-
newal of q government loan which was
about to fall due, the government
would go to the country on an anti
American platform and do all 1t could
do to ruin American trade. This dodge
was partly successful and may yet
serve as an unfortunate precedent. Such
things, however, merely serve to make
the American business man feel that
his problems in Argentina are not
wholly different from those he has to
meet at home.
In spite Of numerous obstacles the
American business man has built up a
trade which in normal years disposes
OF $3.50, o00, 900 worth of our products in
Argentina.
Such popularity must be deserved.
Especially Is this the case where the
tide of opposition Is as strong as it is In
Argentina. Aside from the direct COM
petition based upon quality and price,
American goods must meet and over
come the reactions to a number of
forms of insidious propaganda.
The Monroe Doctrine and the claim
Of the United States to be its sole in
terpreter are always good themes on
which to stir up anti-American feeling
Intervention by our Marines in the
Caribbean countries Is still better, al
though the Argentines have no more In
common with the peoples of the Carib-
bean republics than We have.
More inSidiouS, perhaps. Is the cam
paign to Buy from those who buy
from us!" This slogan has a great
vogue in the Argentine. 1t is obviously
tines sell much more to Great Britain
than they buy from her. 1t Is Just
possible that it Is not spontaneous
expression on the part Of the Argen-
tines. How much harm it has done
to American trade and how much good
to anybody else's, 1t Is hard to esti-
mate.
Argentines Analyze Motives.
That It has had some effect at least
may be assumed. But the Argentines
themselves are beginning to analyze
the motives back OF the cry OF Buy
from those who buy from U.S." A care
ful analysis of the principal products
which America sells to Argentina and
which Great Britain would like to sell
discloses that Americas sales Of these
same products to the British Domin-
ions are far In excess Of the English
products are sold in enormous quanti-
ties in Great Britain ITSELF
Small wonder that the Argentines be.