Evening star., 1939-11-02
Campaign Launched
To Build New Trade
Between Americas
Merchandising Mart
May Be Established
In Rockefeller Center
BY the Associated Press,

BY ths Associated PresA
Latin American diplomats and
United States businessmen inaugu-
rated campaign yesterday to
stimulate United States purchases
of Latin American goods and agreed
to establish huge market place In
New York City.
The proposed merchandising CEN
ter, probably to be located in Rocke-
feller Center, would afford business
men from both continents q place
to meet, show their wares and dis
cuss business.
Undersecretary Of Commerce Ed
ward j. Noble, at q press confer
ence after the meeting sponsored by
the Commerce Department, ex-
planned that United States pur-
chases from Latin America were
emphasized because q huge volume
of orders from Latin America-esti-
mated by some at $3.50. 0.000, ,000-had
switched to this country because of
the war. Germany alone, now cut
off by the allied blockade, sold
about quarter of a billion dollars
worth of merchandise in Latin
America last year.
Need Of Buying by U. s.
Mr.. Noble said business between
the Americas would be seriously dis
rupted if the United States sold
great deal more merchandise in
Latin America without balancing
the sales with purchases.
The Commerce Department off,
cial described the meeting as a
down -brass-tacks" session in
which 13 prominent United States
retailers told 20 invited delegates
from 16 Latin American republics
exactly what they might purchase.
They exhibited more than dozen
samples of merchandise formerly
bought in Europe which now might
be procured from Latin America.
The retailers said Latin American
manufacturers had concentrated
too much on speciality items, par
ticularly souvenirs, and ought to
turn insted to more valuable items,
including some types of handbags,
sweaters, special types of glassware.
fancy linens, rugs and some rayon
and woolen items.
The discussions will be continued
in a series of individual meetings
starting next week among repre-
sentatives of the Commerce Depart
ment and the Latin American coun-
tries and small groups of United
States buyers.
Farley Participants.
Countries represented in the con-
ference were Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ell
Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay and Ven
ezuela.
Retail representatives included
George Artamonoff, Chicago, presi-
dent of Sears International; Edwin
w. Bruno, New York, president Of
E. w. Bruno Corp; T. j. Burns, New
York, merchandise director Of w. T..
Grant Co.; Saul Cohn, New York,
president of National Retail Dry
Goods Association; David r. Craig,
Washington, president of American
Retail Federation; F. j. Emmerich,
New York, vice president of Kresge
Department Stores; L. w. Fairchild,
New York, representing Women's
Wear Daily; Berent Friele, New
York, president of American Coffee
Co.; Louis B. KRISTEN, Boston, vice
president of William Filene's Sons
Co.; Edwin I. Marks, New York, vice
president of r. H. Macy & Co.; DON
aid M. Nelson, Chicago, representing
Sears, Roebuck g. Co., and F. w.
Stadtlander, New York, manager of
the New York foreign Office of the
Associated Merchandising Corp.