298 SELLING LATIN AMERICA 
in Central America, the general tendency to 
political unrest and the existence of an incon 
vertible paper currency in some of these coun 
tries, (similar conditions being current in 
Colombia) serve to emphasize distrust in local 
banks and concentrate banking operations in 
the hands of the larger mercantile houses. 
Prior to the revolutionary troubles which 
are now convulsing Mexico, American, Eng 
lish, German, French and Spanish banks were 
to be found throughout that country. The 
presence of the American banker in this terri 
tory and the great bulk of trade movements 
between Mexico and the United States, kept 
the price of exchange within reasonable 
bounds. 
In Panama, Cuba, Santo Domingo and 
Porto Rico, American banks exist and Ameri 
can currency is in use almost exclusively. All 
financial calculations are made in dollars and 
cents and a complete and perfect system of ex 
change on leading cities of this country is cur 
rent so that the subject need not be further dis 
cussed.