South America and the War

Adapted from lectures delivered at King's College, London, in 1918, this study examines how the First World War affected Latin America's trade and international standing. F. A. Kirkpatrick begins with the region's geography, linking mountains, river systems, climates and natural resources to its economic possibilities. His geographical scope includes the Caribbean republics, Mexico and Central America as well as the South American continent.

The central argument concerns German commercial activity during the war, including investment, proposed government loans and efforts to influence newspapers. Kirkpatrick connects publicity about military strength with the confidence needed for business, and describes Spanish publications as a channel for opinion across the Atlantic. Written with an explicit British wartime purpose, the book offers readers a contemporary account of competition over markets and resources, alongside questions about the republics' development and their place in wider American relations.