Evening star., 1942-01-01
Hemisphere Imports
S PERI Cent Larger
During Year.
Outlet for Argentine
Goods Remains Big
U.S.. Problem
By Cambridge Associates.

BY Cdmbrldge Associates.
At least two Of the three South
American powers are closer to the
United States commercially at the
end of 1941 than they were Mt the
beginning of the year.
Chile's exports Of copper to this
country were large and could have
been larger had there been shipping
facilities to meet the demand. Bra
zil has benefited from rising prices
for coffee, and has welcomed ad-
vances from our Government for
railroad construction, commercial
and agricultural development. Ar
gentina remains the greatest ques-
ton mark, still fundamentally a
competitor with the American far
mer. Progress has been made, but
Argentina is still suffering from
suspension of trade with Axis
powers. and our needs have not
filled the gap.
Tangible signs Of the extent to
which the North and South Ameri-
can nations have learned to CO.
operate under the stress Of the
world upheaval was the announce
ment, late in the year, that United
States troops would occupy Surinam
Dutch Guiana) with the full con-
sent of the Brazilian government
and other interested parties. And
since war declaration by the United
States practically all the hemisphere
has lined Up with us, either actively
or passiyely. II there is now any
| feeling against Yankee imperial
ism," it is not evident in this coun-
try.
Lifelines Shortened.
In the first II months OF l94l,
imports from Latin America in
creased SIS per cent, while our ex-
ports to those countries increased
only 10 per cent over the correspond
ing period of 1910. Never has there
been more reason to work for a
large deficiency in our balance OF
trade.
Economically, it is of considerable
advantage to reduce our dependence
on far points for such essential
supplies as rubber, tin, manganese.
wool and linen, since shipping
shortages and hazards OF transpor-
tation are both reduced.
Politically. a community OF IN
terest between the republics to the
south and our own reduces the pos
sibility that alien ideas may gam
SUPPORT. Socially, larger inter-
change of goods means a higher
standard of living for all. Ana
finally, our possession OF a large
share of the worlds gold may even
tually endanger its value as a me-
dium of exchange.
The present administration has
labored long and hard to promote
such an exchange, but its rate OF
progress under the emergency pow
ers of the last year has been much
faster than by means Of the reclp-
rocal tariff treaties. Treaties nave
their place. and the one whicn was
! signed with Argentina recently was
much more liberal than any previous
agreement.
5 Nevertheless. it is the long-range
. DEVELOPMENT of the agricultural ana
q industrial economies of these ma
. tions which, barring prohlbitlVe
/. tariff walls in the future, Will achleVe
the most lasting benefits.
. Results Will Follow.
:. AS with our defense program
: there is a lag between the design
. and the execution, and from that
. standpoint a large part OF our pro-
gram for better commercial rela'
. tions in the western hemisphere Is
still ION order" In the year 1912
however, it seems likely that the
volume of trade will accelerate.
. Under crisis conditions, 1t should
. not be difficult to secure practically
2 free admission into this country
= of many industrial products. Anc
, after the war, a different philosophy
Of tariffs may be in order thar
q that of the past.
(. Expansion of commercial rela'
!. tions between nations increase:
/. personal contacts. Once the chan
/. nels of business are laid out ano
? used, there is greater likelihood
q. of a continuation of such trade
: On this the administration places
> its hopes for continued friendly re-
z 1otiopS SOiItbUardS