Latin America and Colombia 



697 



Small River Steamer for Tributaries and Canals of Magdalena River 



A CRITICAL TIMS FOR THE UNITED STATES 



The United States has reached a most 

 critical period in its relations with Latin 

 America. What is done or accomplished 

 ■during the next two years may determine 

 forever the relative position of North 

 American trade and prestige in Central 

 and South America. The recent Pan- 

 American conference in Rio Janeiro and 

 the unprecedented visit of Secretary Root 

 to South America should awaken suffi- 

 cient interest throughout the United 

 States in this part of the world to inspire 

 our people in general, and our news- 

 papers, our manufacturers, our mer- 

 chants, our congressmen, our travelers, 

 and our students of foreign intercourse 

 in particular, to a new and active appre- 

 ciation of the Latin-American republics. 



Without half the reason we have for 

 improving the opportunity, European 

 commercial, financial, and diplomatic in- 

 terests, with commendable judgment and 

 .-spirit, which we cannot criticise but must 



admire, are alive to the situation and 

 doing everything legitimately in their 

 power to retain a hold of which they can- 

 not be dispossessed. They keenly realize 

 the present and future possibilities of the 

 material and economic exploitation of 

 Latin America, and they are leaving no 

 stone unturned to gain the necessary ad- 

 vantages before the manufacturers and 

 tradesmen of the United States suddenly 

 become aroused to the situation and com- 

 pete for its control. 



FACTORS UNFAVORABLE TO NORTH 

 AMERICA 



A great factor unfavorable to North 

 American trade and influence in Latin 

 America is the essential difference in lin- 

 eage and language; but this point is little 

 appreciated. The power of similarity in 

 race and tongue is mighty. Kinship in 

 these respects brings men closer together. 

 It makes them more sympathetic, and this 

 counts much in Latin countries. The 

 average North American, instead of care- 



