PROGRESSIVE ARGENTINE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10763, 10 May 1911, Page 6

PROGRESSIVE ARGENTINE.

(By James Davenport Whelpley, in the Century. )

Argentina is a country to be seriously reckoned with in the international economics of to-day and to-morrow. The tremendous potentialities of her vast and temperate areas are only now dawning upon the harassed and food-hungry people of the world. The primary needs of the millions toiling in the densely populated centres of industry are bread and meat. As their eyes scan the world's horizon of production, the promise which lies in these million square miles of land is one of relief from the dire prediction suggested by the constantly-increasing cost of existence.

Argentina is the greatest exporter of corn in the world; she sends abroad more chilled meat than any other country. Only Russia excels her in wheat exports, and only Australia contributes more wool to international trade. The story of her occupations is told in the *act that nearly £900,000,000 of forking capital is represented in ■the pastoral and agricultural pursuits and in the allied industries, while less than £20.000,000 is involved in manufactures, and this includes electric-light and power plants used in the larger cities.

: Along these pastoral and agricultural lines the future of Argentina, lies. Her manufacturing industries will grow in .variety and in value, but they will ever remain a comparatively inconsiderable part of her national wealth. Nature herself has set her limitation with no uncertain hand. A serious lack of fuel and water are characteristic of her vast areas. The great meat and bread producing regions are in the eastern half, and in their physical characteristics resemble Western Kansas. To the west, 'and extending to the foothills of the Cordilleras, is the desert, which may be likened to Arizona. Along the foothills of the Andes conditions prevail similar to those which hold on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. To the north the sub-tropics are invaded, with a more plentiful rainfall and considerable forests of hardwoods. To the south lies Patagonia, with its long reach down towards the Antarctic.

A physical map of Argentina shows no such drainage system as there is in .the United States west of the Mississippi. There are.no running streams, scarcely a-...gu11y in. a -hundred, miles. When it rains the water .stands in pools and lakes an the impervious soil, until evaporation causes them to disappear There are plains and grass, plains and grass, as far as the eye can reach, and monotony as terrible as it is" impressive. No mind afflicted with 'the fear of open spaces should risk itself at large in tliis land-"of. far horizons. Out of a. total population of a little over 6,000,000, ' nearly 'one-third are foreign born', and probably more than half of .the other two-thirds sprang from foreign-born parents. Of the foreign-born, over 1,000.000 are Italian, or fully one-sixth of the present population.' Nearly. 700,000 were-born in Spain, over 100,000 inTrancc, 40,000 in Austria, 30,000 in England, and 25,000 in Germany. The rest of the foreign-born came in small numbers from many far places, or from other South American countries, Brazil furnishing the greatest number. . As far as is known, there are fewer than 3000 North Americans now resident in the Argentine. The English nation lias poured into this virgin field, a billion dollars, nearly seven.hundred,and fifty..millions going into railroads,' and the re'st Into banks, estancias, and other-forms'of profitable industry.. .The-,.Germans cQni.e next, with, say,. sixty,, millions |he v French, with considerably less, rind no other, nation malses aishow'irig't&rtli'Mentioning in comparison, - necessarily '.'follow T "jthe .flag,)';hu"t c that it follows c'apitalis'an'axiom of which England and--the Englishmaii-'t-lohg ago learned- the truth; j.which they have profited. ' ; _'_ . '_, ' ~ The record of Argentine 1 imports and exports tell.'the- story more significantly than . words. .-In 1909 the Argentine, with a .'total, foreign commerce of 700,000,000 dollars, of which 400,000,000 dollars was.7 exports, .dealt with her trade allies as- • follows 'i~,

Impjoxfed- Exported ! -•-■.; -r.'; from ! •_-:.. tp. • Dollars. TJntd. Kingdom 99*198,269 80,745,066 Germany- ~ .... United States... France 30,801,132 30,096,004 Belgium ... 13,570,074 41,306.79!) Italy. . ... ... 26,868,106 12,635:710

The Government of the Argentine is a more or less intelligent oligarchy. The advantages of an oligarchy are stability and a .consistent policy. The danger lies in a possible abuse of power, and the granting of special privileges to those within the circle. Even with a constitution much like that of the United States, and a Government system conducted along the same general lines, there can be no sudden change in the party in power without an armed revolution. The Government candidates are almost invariably elected through a complete control of. the voting machinery. -This is true to such an extent that, as a rule, the Opposition presents a passive resistance only, contenting itself with propaganda and protest rather than with active participation in the election. The oligarchy 's wise, however, for its continuance in power. rests, upon the acquiescence or indifference of a majority of tile people, and thus it takes care to give the country an. administration fully equal, to, : f not above, the average in intelligence and honesty. - - .....

The hold of the English upon tlie trade of the Argentine is legitimate and natural. From the earliest times it lias been English money, handled by Englishmen, which has not only given the initiative push to Argentine development, but has never ceased to inspire it with increasing momentum. English money lias- built the iailrorids, established the banks and loan houses, encouraged the breeding of line horses and cattle, and supplied merchandise suitable for use in all these enterprises. The English are recognised for their national characteristics—conservatism and stability, or depeudableness. Their demand for returns upon ah investment have not been high, and, while in many instances they have realised handsomely upon the outray, or for the money loaned, they have, through bad times as well as good times, never failed to : 'stay pat." It is frue that much of the trade between England and the Argentine is secured through these principal causes: first, that England buys anything that Argentine has to sell, and'in any quantity, thus furnishing cargo for north-bound ships. In return she sends manufactured goods and coal, thus balancing the cargo-carrying situation. Second, the English boards of directors of the English-owned Argentine enterprises naturally give preference to English supplies. It is only where the cost is manifestly and compellingly Tow that requisitions for supplies go farther than the English producers. This extensive exchange of commodities, which is built upon solid foundations and carefully nurtured, naturally-brings with it much trade, of a nondescript character, that at iirst glance would appear to belong to anyone who might ask for it. Following close upon" the heels of the English are the Germans, natural-born traders. They . are .looking- for no territorial conquests or political influence. They ask for nothing but business, and they are getting it. Their display r.t the Exposition was second only to the English. The German merchants have presented to the city of Buenos Ay res i a. 50,000 dollar fountain, to be placed | in one of the great, parks, _ a tremendous Diece of artistic work in size and in quality. Tt is designed by German artists, and is to be built with German money. Offered as a token, of goodwill, it has been gratefully accepted as such. The difference between the Englishman and the German as he is 'found in the Argentine is the continued insularity of the former and his dependence upon custom and trade momentum to maintain his volume of business, and the detachment, of the German from his native land and his dependence upon, conxpe-: tition solely to.hold his own,and secure new business. It has been stated upon good authority -that possibly one-half of the Germans in the Argentine have failed to maintain their active German citizenship by registering at the Consulates once in ten years, as required, by . German law. The Englishman would as little think of endangering his English citizenship as he would of becoming a • naturalised Argentine. He sends lis wife Home that his children may be born on English soil, and he

makes no pretence of his belief that he comes of the greatest nation on earth. With all that, he is patient, understanding, and intelligent in his treatment of other people. The German is adroit, works on a closer margin, is readier to take advantage of every opening, no matter how small. He is clever, patient, anxious to please, and, if he does not Happen to have just what the Argentine wants, he wTfl make it to suit. His trade represents the greatest profit to his country of all trading nations, as he is a purchaser of raw material and a seller of the finished product.