TOUR OF SOUTH AMERICA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23315, 29 April 1941, Page 4

TOUR OF SOUTH AMERICA

BRITISH MISSION’S j SUCCESS' LONDON, March 22. The mission under the leadership of Lord Willingdon, which recently returned to England, was the most important of its kind that has ever visited South America, writes the Buenos Aires correspondent of “The Times.” The mission gained much from its human factor. The striking personality of Lord Willingdon and his record of public service, and the status of Mr R. H. Brand as a leading economist; and his indefatigable energy, were important assets. Several members already had experience of South America and spoke Spanish well. Sir Henry Chilton had been British Ambassador in Chile and Argentina; Mr Stanley G. Irving, the secretarygeneral, had spent many years in Buenos Aires as Commercial Counsellor; and Captain Edward G. de Fury, the press attache of the mission, had been a journalist in Argentina. All the important British industries interested in exporting to South America were represented. Some members of the mission went to all the 10 South American Republics —Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The mission arrived in Brazil in the middle of last November and left Panama for New York on February 18. It was at first feared that time would not permit the inclusion of Paraguay in the tour, for three months was a short period in which to visit 10 Republics covering such a great area. Valuable time, however, was saved by using the services of Pan American Airways, and three members of the mission, Mr Brand, Mr Irving, and Captain de Pury,. made a flying visit to Asuncion, the Paraguayan capital. Moral Effects The mission visited not only the seats of government but also the important ports, leading cities, and commercial centres of South America. Few travellers—and indeed few South Americans —have seen so much of South America as the mission saw in these three months. Its objects were to strengthen the good relations already existing between the British Empire and the peoples of South America; to convince South Americans of Britain’s will to win the war; and to discuss and find ways of overcoming or alleviating the difficulties which the war has caused to international trade. The tour was happily timed, coinciding with the Greek victories in Albania and the British victories in Africa. The moral effects of the tour could hardly have been better. In all the countries visited the mission found the same spirit of friendliness. Its members went home with the conviction that, however strong underground German influence might be, the great mass of the people supported Great Britain and were confident of her victory. While details of the financial and commercial discussions held in the various countries are not yet available, it can be said that the mission cleared up many difficulties, especially in relation to the question of delivery of goods. It ascertained the kind of goods which each country required from Britain, and emphasised Britain’s ability to deliver them. The commercial and industrial members of the mission sent home to their various industries full information gathered on the spot. Much was learnt during the tour about opportunities for trade in the sub-con-tinent, and the mission expects to make recommendations on many subjects with a view to their value both during and after the present war. ,