TRADE BY BARTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23011, 12 April 1938, Page 11

TRADE BY BARTER

GERMANY AND BRAZIL FORMER DIPLOMAT'S VISIT The extent to which trade between Germany and South America has been developed in recent years by means of a system of barter was indicated by ])r. A. Schmidt-Elskop, formerly German Ambassador in Brazil, who is a passenger by the cruise liner Reliance, which arrived from Melbourne yesterday. J)r. Schmidt-Elskop said that this two-way trade was now valued at £30,000,000 annually. In the case of Brazil, Germany exchanged machinery, chemicals, electrical equipment and other manufactures for cotton, rubber, coffee, skins, timber and meat. Exchanges of a similar type were made with other South American countries. l)r. Schmidt-Elskop said there were now about 1,000.000 people of German origin among Brazil's population of 47,000,000. In addition there were about 100,000 German nationals. About 50,000 Germans lived in Argentina, and another 40,000 in Chile. Brazil had made a good recovery from the depression and was now very prosperous, he added. As a result of the granting of extra powers last year to President (J. Vargas, the country had a stable and efficient Government. The President would hold office for another six years. Dr. Schmidt-Elskop retired las»t August from the position of Ambassador for Germany in Brazil after live years' service. He lias spent 32 years in his country's diplomatic service, including periods at Buenos Ayres and Montevideo