FOREIGN TRADE. 183 
With one or two exceptions, no lingerie manufacturers directly 
import their laces and embroideries. Only those doing a very large 
business use enough of any kind of lace or embroidery to get favor- 
able attention or terms in Europe. Inasmuch therefore as nearly 
all of the foreign laces and embroideries used in embellishing muslin 
underwear are not imported directly by the manufacturers, it is 
claimed that it is difficult to conform to all the requirements which 
are imposed by the Treasury regulations before the drawback can 
be allowed. The importers who sell to the manufacturers are nat- 
urally reluctant to show their invoices or disclose the foreign value 
of the laces and embroideries to the firms which parohen from them, 
as such a policy would reveal their profits to their customers. An 
additional difficulty arises from the fact that the manufacturer may 
use foreign materials in making up a lot of garments for export 
which were imported at different times or purchased from several 
sources. Because of the complications reed in complying with 
the Treasury regulations, few manufacturers of muslin underwear 
have made application for payment of the drawback. It appears, 
however, that most manufacturers exaggerate the amount of trouble 
caused by the drawback requirements. The importer of laces and 
embroideries from whom the manutacturer buys can furnish him all 
of the required details as to the imparls, and if the importer refuses 
to give him these details for drawback purposes, he can patronize 
some other importer who will act more reasonably. 
Though comparatively little advantage has so far been taken of 
the drawback privilege 5 manufacturers of muslin underwear, our 
exports of ok Mo are increasing. The unique and attractive 
styles of the American garments and the use of labor-saving machin- 
ery in manufacturing processes are the two most important factors 
which should enable American manufacturers to compete in the trade 
in many countries. South America appears to offer splendid oppor- 
tunities for the sale of American wearing apparel. Our exports 
of Sadung to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile have increased rapidly. 
Exports of cotton wearing apparel from the United States to the 
whole of South America amounted in value to $394,375 in the fiscal 
year 1913 and $277,954 in the fiscal year 1914, as compared with 
$92,927 in 1908 and only $57,017 in 1909. These figures indicate a 
substantial progress, but the share of the United States in this trade 
ig far less on it should be, in view of the enormous quantities of 
clothing which South America purchases from foreign countries. 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRADE IN SOUTH AMERICA. 
A monograph on “South America as an Export Field,”* by Otto 
Wilson, commercial agent of the Department of Commerce, is in- 
tended to give manufacturers information as to the character, extent, 
resources, and trade of South American countries which will enable 
them to determine in part the most favorable markets for their goods. 
The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce will issue Sidr 
a publication setting forth the customs duties on textiles in all the 
South American countries. The publication will cover everything 
comprehended in the textile industries, from the raw fiber, through 
! Special Agents Series No. 81. Copies of this publication may be procured from the Superintendent of 
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washingtoa, D. C., at 25 cents per copy.