Evening star., 1934-01-29
JAPANESE ACTIVE
IN LATIN AMERICA
Competition With U. S. Grows
From Economic Field to
the Political.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
reasons, however. Brazil has not de.
cided to accept the japanese offer yet.
The Japanese government has sue
ceeded in enlisting the sympathy of a
number of newspapers published in
Central and South America.
Lamas Supported U. S.
The principal aim Of these publica-
tions is to prevent better understand
ing between the United States and the
Latin American republics.
This has become evident especially
since the end of the Montevideo con-
ference, which proved success in so
far as 1t has reduced the suspicious Of
the Latin American republics against
the United States.
Saavedra Lamas. the minister for
foreign affairs of Argentina, and one Of
the most distinguished Latin American
diplomats, who heretofore has been
hostile to the United States, was con-
vinced of the honesty of purpose of the
American Government and at Monte
video supported the policy OF the
United States.
This brought upon him the attack
of some newspapers which are in SYM
pathy with Japan. Under the caption
"Saavedra Lamas, r. /. p" the DlgeSto
Latino Americana, published in the city
of Panama. r. P, printed an editorial
mourning his moral death"
After describing what a great Latin
American DR.. Lamas has been, the ar
ticle goes on to say that by the desire
to obtain the North American indorse-
ment in order to become director gen.
eral Of the Pan-American Union. he
made himself in the Uruguayan capital
the guardian dog Of Uncle Sam. The
contin mt Is mourning the moral death
Of Saavedra Lamas."
The same newspaper publishes an
important article under the caption
Japan Conquers America" and features
the photograph of H. M. Hirohito, En-
peror Of Japan.
The article indicates that within a
comparatively short time Japan Will
dominate the Latin American markets
, because Japan can easily undersen all
competitors and the japanese cater TO
the masses
u. S. Prices Prohibitive.
Silk and cotton cloths foodstuffs,
PdpCl pOkb&AS oA0 e4Ds
| feathers, rubber and canvas shoes, cell
! luloid products and toys are some OF
the most popular merchandise that
Japan is supplying in ever larger
amounts to Latin America.
The upper classes in Latin America
continue TO demand American and
European products which are highly
priced. This demand is. however, Inn
tied.
But" the article says. from the
point of view of goods bearing what is
| an average price in the United states.
Latin America is no market at all.
Even without tariffs American prices
are prohibitive in Latin America. Not
so japanese prices. And one has only
| to go into Panama. for instance. TO
store selling American goods and to
one selling japanese goods to see two
entirely different classes of shoppers.
| In the first one. the de luxe popula-
| ton: in the second, just common folk,
! of whom there are millions, compared
to a few hundred thousands OF the
| former. In other words, there are two
markets in Latin America-one for the
few privileged orders of society, the
other for the masses, and japanese
have captured the last market, which
is logical"
The statistics published by Digesto
Latino Americana are interesting.
The japanese exports to Paraguay
have increased from l40 900 gold pesos
in 1924 to 308,597 gold pesos in 1928
There have been no further statistics
published since, but the trade has been
| increasing every year.
Second Place in Panama.
| Peru tells a similar story. The jap
anese exports increased from l,856.000
yen in 1928 to 100000 yen in 1880,
dropped to a little over 100000 yen in
1882 on account of the depression, but
bounded up to 1857 900 yen in the first
six months Of 1888 In Panama, Japan
has reached the position of second to
the United States and expects to i'm
prove this situation since 1t has started
trading with the Panama Republic only
three years ago. The newspaper adds
that loud and sustained agitation
against japanese espionage in the Canal
Of Panama and in the Republic of
Panama and frequent denunciation of
japanese imperialism has not affected
In the least the growth of japanese
trade"
A similar situation prevails in the
South American republics
Although Japan is newcomer in
these markets. her exports to Argentina
alone for instance, in the first half year
Of 1893 increased 2019 per cent, COM
pared with the same period Of the
year before.
This is due not only to the cheapness
Of the japanese products. but also to
the fact that Japan is willing to accept
payment in kind. importing whatever
raw materials the Latin American re-
publicS produce