Anonymous

“ Just as the United States had to subdue savage Indians, to enter into war and to offer great sacrifices to develop the resources of vast uninhabited territories in order to establish the principles of liberty and justice, the Argentine Republic has successfully conquered the same difficulties and, to-day, is inviting the rest of the world to add to its developments and to share its wealth. In the disposition of its territories, in its form of government and in its constitution and laws, the Argentine Republic has modelled its policy upon that of the United States. ”

“ In other forms of industrial or commercial enterprises, American interests are comparatively insignificant. The acquisition and establishment of local freezing plants by the American packing houses, though important in extent, involve considerations of too controversial a character to be dealt with in this survey of the commercial relations of the two countries. It is considered desirable, therefore, to treat only of such branches of industry, commerce and finance as embrace the general field of foreign enterprise. ”

“ It has served, firstly, to show that the great advance made by the leading South American Republics is not merely an advance made for selfish purposes, but for the benefit of the whole of the Latin nations of the American continent. The great statesmen of those countries, whilst recognizing the occasionally intemperate political acts which take place in some of the lesser Republics, have placed a cloak of protection around the weaker sisters of their countries to prevent attacks upon their national independence and sovereignty. ”

“ Not least amongst the countries willing to make sacrifices to share in this noble work was the Argentine Republic which, in the face of many obstacles to adequate representation, at once entered into the spirit of the undertaking and after assembling its leading authorities in all the branches of national arts and industries, decided to assume its appropriate part in the glorification of the American Continent by the effort to show that the nations of the south were advancing step by step with the great Republic of the north. ”

“ In every form of national activity the forward march of the Argentine Republic has made itself felt far beyond its own borders; while from a purely commercial point of view it has become a centre of universal interest and has added materially to the enrichment of the commerce of many of the countries of Europe. ”

“ Of much more recent date and, perhaps, also of greater practical interest, is the Natural Agricultural Museum, the objects of which are to promote the knowledge of agriculture by instructive exhibits and to demonstrate the measures best adapted to the scientific methods of cultivation and to overcome the natural drawbacks besetting that branch of national industry. The collection comprises upwards of twenty thousand specimens of agricultural products of every description as well as statistics and information pertaining to rural economy. ”

“ Under its provisions the right of property is inviolate and prerogatives of blood, of birth, or titles of nobility are not recognized, all men being equal under the law. The composition of the judiciary, the executive and the legislative branches of government, differs only from that of the United States in that all judges are appointed and not elected.
Each of the fourteen Provinces of the Republic has its own Constitution, which cannot be in conflict with the Federal Constitution which provides a necessarily limited degree of autonomy in the government of the Provinces. ”

“ Favored by nature and by the conditions under which it was founded, the City of Buenos Aires from its earliest days has been endowed with elements which have considerably influenced the vast growth and development that have made it the leading Latin city of the new world. Situated on the banks of the River Plate and at the gateway of the Atlantic, nature has largely contributed towards making it a great commercial centre. ”

“ The domestic architecture of the time of Rozas was gradually succeeded by the introduction of the architectural beauty of the period of the Renaissance and subsequently by the various Grecian orders, culminating in the advent of European architects and artists who evolved many unique and distinct styles which are to-day illustrated in a number of the imposing and artistic edifices that adorn the city and, with the surrounding parks, trees, gardens, flowerbeds and running waters, both in the centre and in the suburbs, reveal a panorama of unsurpassing beauty. ”

“ In legislation there have been many notable advances during the past twenty years and, in some cases, examples worthy of being followed by older communities. Amongst the most important legislative measures, those dealing with immigration, colonization, electoral reform, land settlement, education, labor, animal and sanitary laws, may be singled out for special mention. The immigration laws have been framed, since their inception, with a view to inviting foreigners to share in the development and enjoyment of the national wealth. ”

“ To demonstrate the extraordinary development of the stock breeding industry, it is only necessary to state that according to the last Agricultural and Livestock Census taken in 1908, the Republic was shown to possess 29,116,625 head of cattle, 67,211,754 sheep, 3,945,036 goats, and 7,531,376 horses, being an increase over the census of 1895 of approximately 30 per cent in the number of head of cattle and of nearly 50 per cent in the number of horses. ”

“ The education of youth of Argentina is the concern of state authorities who work in harmony with the educational bodies of its cities, towns and villages. The exception to it consists in the control of the Primary schools of the Federal city of Buenos Aires by the National Board of Education, together with some other exceptions to be mentioned later on. ”

“ Many of the ancient houses with flat roofs and severely simple facades have been substituted by highly ornamented dwellings of two, three, or more stories; and, with a desire to add to the embellishment of the city, the Municipality offers a gold medal and a diploma to the architect, and an immunity from payment of the building tax to the owner, of the building for the most artistic façade, the jury being composed of representatives of different bodies exercising authority in relation to such matters as architecture, surveys, public works, engineering and fine arts. ”

“ The countries which have hitherto occupied the first place in Argentine foreign trade are those which not only gave initial impulse to the development of national industries by the founding of banks and the construction of railways, but likewise by the creation of adequate steamship services. ”

“ In the Palace of Education and Social Economy which was voluntarily accorded a place of honor by the Exposition Commission amongst the principal Palaces of the Fair, there has been formed a collection of detailed exhibits pertaining to Argentine national education which points to the very great importance given to this subject by the authorities of the Republic. The efforts of every official element in educational matters have been brought into play with a result that leaves no doubt, either as to the desire for, or the standard of culture in the Argentine Republic. ”

“ An analysis of the figures of the foreign trade of the Argentine Republic for the past twenty years establishes the fact that the United States is in a position to successfully compete with Europe in many lines far beyond the limits already reached; and there is certainly no lack of effort or inclination on the part of American manufacturers to enter into such competition. It is therefore reasonable to assume that there are other causes operating to check a growth in the volume of American trade with the Argentine Republic. ”

“ A feature of striking interest in the life of Buenos Aires is the number and excellence of the many hospitals, asylums and other charitable organizations established to provide for the afflicted and poorer classes of the community. Apart from those endowed by the various foreign colonies residing in the city, the majority of these institutions are largely supported by State aid in form of appropriation or specific revenues. ”

“ In that Republic there is perfect religious and civil freedom; there are no restrictions upon healthy immigration, or upon the nationality of land owners. The right is accorded to every inhabitant, native or foreign, to engage in any lawful commerce or occupation, to petition the authorities, to enter, remain upon, travel over, or leave Argentine territory at will ”

“ There are to-day upwards of 33,000 kilometers of railway in operation in the Republic, with an aggregate capital of considerably over $2,000,000,000, more than 90 per cent, of which is entirely British, whilst the oversea communications are conducted by regular and rapid services of steamships flying the flags of the maritime countries of Europe. The great traction companies in the capital and the provinces are British; the street electric railways established on an important scale throughout the Republic are British ”

“ The development of other Argentine national industries is to be seen in the Palace of Industry, which occupies a rectangular space of 30 meters frontage by 18 deep, on the Central Avenue. In this section are shown samples of a great variety of articles produced in the numerous factories devoted to the production of cloth, shoes, hats, decorative ornaments, electric light fittings, crockery, construction material, tools, implements, mechanical products, glassware, matches, tannery, saddlery and many others. ”

“ It should be further added that the climatic conditions of the country permit of all its animals being reared in the open; and as showing the possibilities awaiting those who enter this field of national industry, it may be pointed out that in hundreds of cases where land has been rented and cultivated for the purpose of fattening cattle, the lessees have been enabled within a very few years to become absolute owners of the land as a result of their profitable operations. ”

“ The only American interest in railways is in the Argentine Railway Company, which consists of a combination of three or four minor lines in the north and north-eastern provinces, with a small proportion of American capital. ”

“ Metallurgical industries have made rapid strides not only in numbers but also in the value and extent of their production; and, there is little doubt, that as the exploitation of the many iron and copper mines to be found in the Republic is proceeded with, this branch of national industry will attain still greater proportions. ”

“ Buenos Aires, like many other great capitals, is confronted with the difficulty of a congestion of traffic owing to the large increase of population and the narrowness of the streets in the older sections of the city, but this problem is being gradually solved by the construction of new broad diagonal avenues and by the building of subways which are now being rapidly extended. ”

“ Of the $400,000,000 of the Argentine External Debt, practically the whole of the issues making up this vast sum are in the hands of European investors and, in normal times, as further capital is called for to meet the requirements of any of the established enterprises, or of others formed on similar lines, it is invariably forthcoming from Europe; and to these advantages which the Argentine Republic enjoys in her commercial relations with the older countries, there is the additional fact that she derives all her immigration from northern and southern Europe. ”

“ In point of fact, in all the liberal arts and professions, the Argentine Republic takes one of the first places. Literature, Music and Art are also at a very high standard and it is perhaps appropriate to mention here in regard to music that not only is its study general throughout the country but, that in Buenos Aires alone, there are upwards of sixty Conservatories of Music where instruction is received in the higher branches. ”

“ Whilst it would be difficult to assume that any reforms will be effected during the continuance of the present war in Europe or immediately thereafter, it is reasonable to suppose that the substantive portions of the Argentine Ambassador's resolution will influence succeeding international Conferences to so regulate these vital matters as to confine naval operations within limits which, in future wars, will not place so heavy a burden upon the coastal and oversea trade of neutral countries. ”

“ The annual shows of the Rural Society in Buenos Aires attract visitors from all parts of Europe and it has been conceded that for the variety and all-round quality of the animals exhibited, they excel the regularly established shows of Europe. ”

“ The pure European origin and the commercial spirit of the new inhabitants soon produced changes in pre-existing conditions and in marking out the path for the present Argentine metropolis to become the hub of South America. Founded in 1535 by Pedro de Mendoza, and subsequently destroyed and twice depopulated, the modern rise of the capital of what is now the Argentine Republic may be said to date from 1824, after the formulation of the Monroe Doctrine and the recognition of the independence of the people of Buenos Aires by the United States and Great Britain. ”

“ There is also a collection of mineral waters in which are included those mostly used in the thermal establishments of Rosario de la Frontera; whilst, as a decorative contribution to the exhibition there is a plastic representation of the Sierras of Famatina, showing a part of its wonderful aerial railway, together with an admirable series of photographs, maps, and diagrams embracing practically every branch of the mineral and metallurgical industries. ”

“ The vast increase in exports during latter years has naturally attracted considerable imports of gold; and, as showing the wealth and stability of the Republic, it may be mentioned that the Conversion Fund created by law in 1901 to secure the national issues of paper and nickel currency (which was then to consist of appropriations from certain sources of revenue until a total of $30,000,000 had been obtained) showed at December 31st, 1913, gold reserves in the Caja de Conversion to be $233,197,727, or considerably more than 60 per cent. of the entire issues of paper and nickel currency. ”

“ The statistics, which form an instructive addition to the pictorial matter, have been so compiled and tabulated as to make their full value and significance easy of comprehension and there is every reason to believe that those which accompany the illustrations of the agricultural sections and experimental stations will be of special interest to the majority of American visitors to the Exposition. ”

“ Of recent development and also under control of the National Government are the Commercial schools for men and women, which provide adequate modern instruction in salesmanship and bookkeeping and all other affiliated activities of commerce. ”

“ There are no laws in the Argentine Republic, either of a fiscal or domestic nature, which are calculated to affect ruling market prices, or which admit of inequality of treatment. Tariffs are based upon a reciprocal policy, the tariff laws of the Argentine Republic being so framed as to permit the Executive to relax and reduce in favor of those countries which accord similar treatment to her national products. ”

“ The conditions arising out of the great upheaval caused by that world disaster have furnished the occasion for the exercise of an effort without parallel in the United States in any previous attempt to secure a larger share of South American trade. In this movement the Argentine Republic must necessarily be the main objective, owing to the vastness of its resources and commercial activities. ”

“ First amongst these exhibitions is the Museum of Fine Arts, which contains a number of important works collected and arranged with great skill and taste, whilst many of the private galleries have been especially erected in the palaces of wealthy residents for the purpose of housing some of the priceless objects which are to be found in the capital of the Argentine Republic. ”