The American International Corporation was described by its vice-president (Mr. Connick) before a Senate Committee on March 1, 1918. "Until the Russian situation became too acute, they had offices in Petrograd, London, Paris, Rome, Mexico City. They sent commissions and agents and business men to South America to promote trade.... They were negotiating contracts for a thousand miles of railroad in China. They were practically rebuilding, you might say, the Grand Canal in China. They had acquired the Pacific Mail.... They then bought the New York Shipbuilding Corporation to provide ships for their shipping interests." By 1919 (_New York Times_, Oct. 31, 1919) the Company had acquired Carter Macy & Co., and the Rosin and Turpentine Export Co., and was interested in the International Mercantile Marine and the United Fruit Companies. Another illustration of the same kind of general foreign business appeared in the form of an advertisement inserted on the financial page of the _New York Times_ (July 10, 1919) by three leading financial firms, which called attention to a $3,000,000 note issue of the Haytian American Corporation "Incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, owning and operating sugar, railroad, wharf and public utility companies in the Republic of Hayti." Further, the advertisers note: "The diversity of the Company's operations assures stability of earnings." American manufacturers, traders and industrial empire builders have not gone alone into the foreign field. The bankers have accompanied them. Several of the great financial institutions of the country are advertising their foreign connections. The Guaranty Trust Company (_New York Times_, Jan. 10, 1919) advertises under the caption "Direct Foreign Banking Facilities" offering "a direct and comprehensive banking service for trade with all countries." These connections include: 1. Branches in London and Paris, which are designated United States depositories. "They are American institutions conducted on American lines, and are especially well equipped to render banking service throughout Europe." There are additional branches in Liverpool and Brussels. The Company also has direct connections in Italy and Spain, and representatives in the Scandinavian countries. 2. "Direct connections with the leading financial institutions in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil." A special representative in Buenos Ayres. "Through our affiliation with the Mercantile Bank of the Americas and its connections, we cover Peru, Northern Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and other South and Central American countries." 3. "Through the American Mercantile Bank of Cuba, at Havana, we cover direct Cuba and the West Indies." 4. "Direct banking and merchant service throughout British India," together with correspondents in the East Indies and the Straits Settlements.