The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-05-11
McADOO RETURNS.
SAYS South American Statesmen Are
for Merchant Marine.

WASHINGTON, May 4.-Secretary
McAdoo, back from the Buenos Aires
meeting of the international hlgn
commission, declared in statement
tonight that leading South American
statesmen agreed with him that
quick development of a merchant
marine under an American flag and
completion of a Pan-American rail-
way are the most important factors
to be considered in plans for closer
unity among American nations. Inc
secretary and the other members OF
the United States section of the COM
mission reached Hampton Roads on
the cruiser Tennessee early today
and Immediately came to the CAPT.
tai.
Mr.. McAdoo. as head of the sec
ton, reviewed the work of the Bue-
nos Aires meeting at length and an
nounced that in all the countries ne
visited on the way back from Argen-
tina he found most friendly feeling
toward the United States.
81 had the honor and privilege OF
meeting and conversing with the
presidents of Brazil, Uruguay, Argen-
tina, Chile, Peru, Panama, Cuba and
Haiti, and l also met many of the
leading statesmen of South Ameri-
ca, with whom I discussed questions
of national interest," said the state
ment. Everywhere I found an ear
nest desire to strengthen CONNER
cial, financial and political relations
with the United States, and every
where we went there was a genuine
" friendly attitude and a complete
absence of that suspicion and dis
]. trust of the United States which has,
until recently, existed to more or
less degree in some, at least, of the
Central and South American coun-
tries. This is a very fortunate de-
yelopment 1t is due primarily to
the politics and utterances of Presi-
dent Wilson and to the suggestions
made by the United States for mutual
guarantees of the territorial integ-
rity and political independence of all
the American republics.
0 every leading statesman in South
America with whom 1 talked empha-
sized the paramount Importance of
"a merchant marine under the flag
of the Unitedy States, or under the
flags of the different American ma
stions, if American financial and COM
Smercial relations are to be enlarged
upon an enduring foundation. The
hope was expressed in every country,
and was voiced in the, resolutions
unanimously adopted by the inter-
national high commission, that the
United States will promptly solve
this pressing problem, and there was
frank recognition that the United
States alone has the financial re-
Sources to do so.
Another question of great i'm
portance is the completion of the
9intercontinental railway connecting
North and South America through
the Isthmus of Panama. Outside Of
ocean transportation no other under
taking is more essential to the fu-
ture development of North and South
American than the construction of
this great railroad. 1t is not Wis
ionary idea; it is a very practicable
idea, and one that can be realized
at much less cost than the Panama
canal.
n f'The total distance between New
York and Buenos Aires by rail is
10000 miles, of which approximate
.ly 7,400 miles have been built and
are now in operation, leaving ap-
proximately 1900 miles to be con-
structed."