SOUTH AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15375, 9 August 1913, Page 11

SOUTH AMERICA.

NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. [FBOM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] / .; ".'•>,:■;':' : , ■ Sydney, August 2. ■ One /of.- the passengers by the - steamer Knight of the Garter, which arrived from Valparaiso the other day, was Mr. Melville Johnstons, who belongs to a wellknown pastoral family in the Hawke's : Bay district.; > -;"/'; _ :■ • ..Mr'. ■'■' Johnstone, ,who ,ia, interested in the cattle business, has spent several months in Chili, Uruguay, and the Argentine. One company was, he said, running 30,000 head of cattle, and as much aa £4460 had been paid by Kit for a Shorthorn bull at ;an English show. Government methods in the South American countries did' not impress him. The 'policy of the business people seemed to he: "It: i» cheaper :to make a bad bargain than risk a ; protracted law suit." : "To a visitor the military spirit of the people is: most noticeable," he said, ■ : "there are soldiers all over t the place.; But the. uniforms of the military and the navy excite interest. The troops are clothed in the German stylo, while the naval - side is essentially British. v -The explanation is found in the fact that the roiiifcafx j officers are trained Jin Germany, while : the naval officers spend a lot of time in England. I found the people in many of the States very fond of the Englishman. They*"call themselves ' The ■England of South America,' " went on, Mr. : Johnstone. " I had an interesting conversation with one of the naval officers, and he said : :' We in South America are fine people, there is only one bad boy.* I said : "Is that , bad boy Paraguay or Venezuela?' He answered: * Oh, no—it is the United States.' v-';'"Then It learned," said the New Zealander, f that the :■ Southern Republics hate the United States. They have never forgiven Uncle Sam for the way he demanded ■'«." sum of . money because : some of his people were killed m a street brawl. On that occasion an American gunboat went into San Diego, and the commander said: 'If you don't pay I'll blow your town to pieces.' .' ! : -'; . ;. ;v "• Go ahead,' said the southern officials, but remember some of our boatii are just rounl the :: r corner in Talcuhuano." The American gunboat did not open fire, but the money was paid later on. : " I am satisfied, too," said Mr. Johnstone, "having covered a good deal of the S country, i that Brazil, Argentine, and: Chili have an understanding now. I was told as a matter of fact that the three countries have resolved to stick together and protect the' whole of the South from the United States. They will never agree to any absorption by the great U.S.A. It was .the same ; naval officer who . told me: 'We do riot want • the United \ States we can look after ourselves.''' Mr. Johnstone is on his. way back to New Zealand. - : . r » :