The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, AUGUST 13th, 1932. THE ARGENTINE INTERESTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, AUGUST 13th, 1932. THE ARGENTINE INTERESTS.

The interests of. the Argentine in British trade matters is of great importance. There is a valuable trade connection between the Argentine and Great Britain. The former exports meat wheat, butter, maize etc., and the country is greatly interested in the postikle- results from Ottawa. Recently the Duke of Atholl as the head cf important British interests in Argentine,, ' visited Buenos Aires, and was entertained by the British community. There is a targe amount of British; capital invested in the country and speaking of one venture alone, the Duke declared that the fate of the Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company, representing an investment, of twenty millions of mainly British capital was tunjhling in the balance. The Company has been in existence for over 50 yieiars, but the conditions were such, that the Company had to foregr the interest- on the debentures! This is only one o.f many British monetary concerns which is attracting great in, tor&st. The effect of any . disaster ir fegn-rd to- British investments; it »; realised, would he had- for the eoun-t-rt,' and wou|!d take a long time ' wipe out. Tt is admitted that in sp te rf repeated and eloquent recent niani- . festal ions ’ cof Anglo-Argentine goodwill and syrir ithy, the arrangement of material ini u esta and associations of the two countries leave a great deal to be desired. The question of. exchange with Britain ia also a burning and tips in turn brought

up the question jof Ottawa, which is regarded with co nsiderable misgiving in Argentine. T|ie Duke explained that to his minli, it was intended simpfly to find a ;means to strengthen and retain, thie fad lily ties of the Dominions and coloniiis, and iurther to make certain no other n'rr:oa slips in between t!ie far [flung part's of the Empire. He considered that the European and Asiatic markets having crashed, it was for Britain and . her.' Dominions to s td'eguard themselves within tbenfeelve.!.! It does not mean, he addedj that Britain is to forget her old Mends arid that they are rot welcome at the't ible, nor that the; table is' too sihallli to accommodate them. ■ Perhaps, b© said, there was no better example l to take than that of Argent 1 na /which in many ways has for Britain all the advantages and none of the disadvantages of a colony. He went on to; sa y that Britain was not interested in jiashioning the destiny of Argentine, 1 ; nor responsible for its political thoughts. Britain had honourable deaiiri/.fc in the part,, and it was , desired t p maintain those relations. Britain < tould use,their products, :. especially tereah and meat, provided tho• Arg Ifttine would 'hold th© British market ! by giving, Britain an equivalent part jin the local market, helped out by i the invisible exports which meant <a reasonable and secure dividend on j British capital 'invested in thte count ry. This puts, the matter in an irttE resting light and there' can be no*j misunderstanding the situation. Britain has large financial interests in tie Argentine, and for that reason imter-trading is inevitable, but it [would appear the progress a.t Ottawa,! even in regard to meat, ia not going jfo close Argentine out of the British i narket. Argentine in particular has a 'natural advantage in her proximity to \ the market, and the preferen'ee' for cb illecl in favour of frozen meat. j . ■