Evening star., 1933-10-29
BY GASTON NERvAL.
8 the opening date Of the Sew

n enth Pan-Amertcan Confer
n ence at Montevideo draws near
er, talk Of regional customs
unions or multilateral trade
agreements among the Latin American
countries grows more intense.
OF course, the Latin American coun-
tries are at present separated by geo
graphic and political barriers very diff
cult to ovecome in the case OF an
economic union. But, then, what other
road would be left for Latin America
If no great improvement in its COM
mercial relations with the United
States were to be obtained at Monte
video?
Hard as 1t is to conceive Of a Latin
American economic block under the
present circumstances, 1t Is plain that
In q world beset by insurmountable
high tariffs and trade restrictions
would be to find relief within herself.
It Is. undoubtedly. upon the realization
Of this fact that Chilean, Argentine,
Brazilian and and Cuban statesmen
have lately Endorsed the idea and even
taken the first steps in its direction.
Previous articles have described such
steps.
Most Promising Region.
To stress the importance Of a Latin
American trade compact. If it were
possible today, and the effect it would
have upon the whole economic struc-
ture Of the world. one need only bear
in mind the potentialities and capacity
Of production Of that region.
The Latin American continent is un-
doubtedly the most promising of the
non-exploited regions Of the earth
Europe, with some $50 900 900 inhab-
itants. has an average of As inhabitants
per square kilometer Asia. with a
total population of billion, has about
Is Inhabitants per square kilometer.
Africa has an average close to 5 in
hab1tantS per square kilometer- But
Latin America, with nearly 100,000,000
inhabitants, has only an average Of Sc
per square kilometer.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the
temperate zone has been exploited al
most to the limit of its capacity. Eu-
rope Is unable to increase her produc-
tion OF food or raw materials. Asia,
neither. with her tremendously large
population and enormous desert regions.
will be able to augment hers, and will
continue to be dependent upon foreign
sources of production Even the nat
ural reserves Of the United States may
some day be endangered by this coun-
trys growing population and over
whelming industrial development
Two Small Competitors.
Outside of the temperate and trop-
lcal zones OF Latin America. there are
only TWO other regions where the world
can seek new sources Of production and
natural resources still undeveloped,
Australia and New Zealand, but Latin
America has many advantages over
them.
All of Argentina, all Of Chile, all of
Uruguay, the South of Brazil. the high
er zones of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and
Colombia, are already producing large
amounts OF grains, and possess great
quantities Of live stock.
Mexico is the third largest producer
OF oil In the world, the largest pro-
ducer OF silver and has almost mon
opoly of the "henequen" or "sisal"
thread. Cuba is the first producer of
sugar In the world. Venezuela is al
ready the second largest oil producer
after the United States. Bolivia is the
second producer of tin in the world.
Chile possesses the world monopoly of
! nitrate and is the second largest pro-
ducer Of copper. Argentina IS one of
the most important sources of agricul-
tural products in the world. Her meats
and grains are exported in large guam
titles to Europe and the United States,
and she also has the monopoly on que
bracho."
First in Platinum.
Brazil is the worlds greatest coffee
producer, and the rest Of the produc-
| ton is almost exclusively raised by
| other Latin American countries. Near
ly all Of the cacao production of the
world. also. comes from Latin America,
principally Brazil and Ecuador. Co
lombia Is today the largest producer
Of platinum. The sugar and cotton
crops of Brazil, Peru and other Latin
American republics are already among
the important ones in the world.
| As for rubber. Brazil and Bolivia
| can very well recuperate their old pre-
| dominant position by means of plan
tations Of the type existent in Malaga.
| The greatest oil reserves are also in
Latin America. 1t is impressive to
watch the growth of the oil production
in Venezuela, Colombia. Peru, etc, in
the last few years. The decrease in
the Mexican production is probably
| only temporary.
As for the power sources used for
the production and distribution Of nat