from the United States-originating in Miami, Fla., and passing by way of Habana, Cuba-enters Mexico at Merida, where connections are available for Mexico City. All of the capitals of the Central American Republics are served by the Pan American Airways. Steamship service.-The Grace Line and several other steamship companies provide regular or occasional services from the United States west coast ports to Mexican and Central American Pacific ports; and the United Fruit and the Standard Fruit boats provide steamship service between the eastern or southern American ports and Mexican Gulf ports and the Caribbean ports of Central America. Motor routes.-The Pan American Highway, which is expected to eventually link the United States with the continental countries of Latin America, is available for those who prefer to travel to Mexico by motor vehicle over a section open for traffic between Laredo, Tex., and Mexico City. The Mexican capital can also be reached by highway from the Pacific port of Acapulco, and from the Atlantic port of Veracruz via Jalapa and Puebla. Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas.-Colombia can be reached by steamship from New York via the Grace Line and by the United Fruit Co. services. For those wishing to sail from the United States Pacific coast, a transfer can be effected at the Panama Canal for either Buenaventura, on Colombia's Pacific coast, or for the Caribbean ports. The Grace Line Caribbean service provides water transportation between New York, Colombian ports, Curacao, Aruba, and the Venezuelan ports of Puerto Cabello and La Guaira. La Guaria is a port of call for boats of the Royal Netherlands Steamship Co., south-bound from New York. Other steamship services are available to both Colombia and Venezuela from United States Gulf ports. Airplane service to both Colombia and Venezuela is provided by the Pan American Airways, either by connections at Panama, or by way of the Caribbean islands. The Aluminum Line provides service twice a month between New Orleans and Mobile and Paramaribo, Surinam (Nether. lands Guiana), and Trinidad, with stops, south-bound, at Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic; Curacao, Netherlands West Indies; and La Guaira, Venezuela. The Royal Netherlands Steamship Co. operates steamers about every 20 days south-bound from New York to Curacao and Aruba; Maracaibo and other Venezuelan ports; Trinidad; Demerara, British Guiana; and Paramaribo, Surinam (Netherlands Guiana). The Canadian National Line provides frequent transportation out of Boston, by way of Bermuda, for ports in the Leeward and Windward Islands, Trinidad, and British Guiana. Cayenne, French Guiana, can be reached from British and Netherlands Guiana and from Trinidad via the French Line, about once a month. The Pan American Airways system, operating out of Miami, provides airplane service with the Guianas. Islands of the West Indies.-A number of steamship lines out of New York provide frequent passenger and freight service to the Caribbean ports, and rapid and frequent communication is available via the Pan American Airways between Miami and most of the important commercial cities of the area. A more detailed indication of these services is given in the section of this Guide devoted to the individual countries. NOTE. In this Guide have been included a number of European transportation lines which normally provide services in the Latin American area, but which have suspended operations by reason of war conditions in Europe. PASSPORTS An American citizen may apply for a passport before a clerk of a Federal court or of a State court authorized by law to naturalize aliens, or before an agent of the Department of State. The latter are located in New York City (Subtreasury Building, and also at Rockefeller Center (International Building), Boston (United States Post Office and Courthouse), Chicago (New Post Office Building), and San Francisco (Federal Office Building). UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Current and background information on the countries which a commercial traveler plans to visit can be obtained at the nearest District Office of the United States Department of Commerce. The traveler may also desire to check up on such matters as import duties and regulations, exchange restrictions, credits, foreign competition, and the status of local manufacturing developments. The United States Government maintains the following representations in Mexico and the Caribbean area: Embassies. At Mexico City; Habana, Cuba; Bogota, Colombia; Caracas, Venezuela; and Panama, Panama. Legations. At Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, San Salvador, Managua, San Jose, Ciudad Trujillo, and Port-au-Prince. Commercial Attachés.-At Mexico City, Guatemala City, Panama, Bogota, Caracas, and Habana. District Office, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.San Juan, Puerto Rico. Consular Service.-Consulates general are located at Mexico City, Guatemala City, San Salvador, and Habana. Consulates, vice consulates, or consular agencies are located in Mexico, aside from the capital, at Agua Prieta, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juarez, Durango, Ensenada, Guadalajara, Guaymas, Matamoros, Mazatlan, Merida, Mexicali, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Piedras Negras, San Luis Potosi, Tampico, Torreon, and Vera cruz. In Central America, aside from the capitals, such agencies are located at Ceiba and Puerto Cortes, Honduras; Port Limon, Costa Rica; and Colon, Panama; in Colombia, at Barranquilla, Cali, and Cartagena ; in Venezuela, at La Guaira and Maracaibo; in Trinidad (with jurisdiction for the colonial Guianas), at Portof-Spain; in the Caribbean island area, at Antilla, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Nuevitas, and Santiago, in Cuba; at Barbados; at Kingston, Jamaica; and at Nassau, Bahamas. The addresses of American chambers of commerce in these areas are as follows: The American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, Edificio The American Chamber of Commerce of Cuba, 329-333 The American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Before leaving the United States for any Latin American country the traveler should make sure that he has complied with all necessary formalities required by the government of the country he proposes to visit. These requirements are outlined in special sections under each country, but they are subject to change. Each of the Latin American Republics maintains diplomatic representation in Washington; also, there are consulates of these countries in the leading cities of the United States. Restrictions Arising From War Conditions.-Because of special controls and restrictions in British colonial areas during the war period, it is suggested that, before planning commercial trips to such areas, firms interested may find it to their advantage to consult the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in Washington (or any of the Bureau's District Offices) as to the current status of such import-trade and exchange regulations. LANGUAGE, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES Languages. Spanish is used in Mexico, the Central American Republics, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. French is used in Haiti, French Guiana, and the islands of the French West Indies; Dutch is used in Netherlands Guiana (Surinam) and the Netherlands West Indies; and English is the language of British Honduras, British Guiana, and the British West Indies. Weights and Measures.-The metric system of weights and measures is generally employed in those countries where Spanish, French, and Dutch are spoken; although in certain areas some old Spanish measures, such as the Spanish quintal, are also in use. The weights and measures common to the British Empire are employed, with some local variations, in the British possessions located in the Latin American area. SUMMARY STATISTICS Factors which indicate in a general way the extent of the market in the leading countries discussed in Part III of the Guide are presented in statistical form in the following summary table. Table 1.-Summary Statistics for Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean Countries |