Evening star., 1925-04-19
BY HENRY L. SMEINHART.

"A N ORE than usual significance
M is attached to the visit to
fV the United States of Gen.
L Gerardo Machado. President
elect of the Cuba, who is to
be inaugurated as Chief Executive of
the island republic on May 20.
In the first place, he. is the third
President elect of a Latin American
country who, between the date of his
elsction and the date of his inaugura-
tion has been the guest of the United
States within the past year. Two
others also have been here within the
past few years. Last November Gen.
Plutarco Elias Gales, who in July had
been chosen President of Mexico was
accorded the honors due his position
as he passed through this country on
his way back from Europe. Only a
few months previously Gen. Horacio
Easquez. President elect of the Domin-
lean Republic, paid visit to the
United States. In the early days of
the Harding Administration the Pres
ident-elect of Colombia, Gen. Pedro
Mel Ospina, was here, and several
years previously the chosen President
of Brazil. DR.. Epitacio Pessoa.
Marks Close Relations.
In the second place the visit of
Gen. Machado is believed to mark not
only the close relations, commercial
and otherwise. between the United
States and Cuba, but also the increas-
ingly friendly relations between this
country and all the other republics of
she Western hemisphere. SO frequent
have these visits become that a prece-
dent almost has been established.
In the official mind no doubt exists
rs to the beneficial effect of the friend
ly international contacts which are
thus established. The opportunity is
afforded, it is pointed out for the WIS.,
Iting chief executive to meet the Presi-
dent of the United States and other
prominent officials and through infor-
NAL conversation ascertain their views
on some of the larger phases of prob
lens affecting the two countries.
At the same time the visiting Off
cial always leaves behind a kindly
memory of himself and a friendly
recollection of the country which he
represents. This, it is believed. means
much to the continuing good relations
between the two nations. Apparently
beneficial results have followed from
sall the five visits of Presidents-elect
from Latin America to the United
States within the past few years.
Cuba's Close Position.
On account of the peculiarly close
relations which always have existed
between the United States and the
Republic of Cuba-the geographical
proximity, the large commercial trans
actions and the fact that there were
two periods of American military oc-
cupation of the island after the free
dom from Spain-the pre-inaugural
visit of Gen. Machado is viewed as of
aoecial significance. With the politi-
cal situation in Cuba more settled at
the present time apparently than it
has been for years past, and with all
thought of threatened American inter
vention-always a bugbear to the Gu
banS-almoSt forgotten, it is stated
that no political Importance attaches
10 the Machado call" on President
Coolidge and on Secretary of State
Kellogg and other officials of this
Government.
Nevertheless, it is believed some
some political gain will be accom-.
pushed and that Gen. Machado will
20 back to Havana strengthened in
more ways than one-in the first place
by knowing ''at first hand" something
of the mind of the President of the
United States and those associated
with him in the handling of foreign
affairs; and in the second place by be-
ing better able to handle his end of
the problems which arise between
the two countries.
What Visitors Have Said.
1t is interesting to note what some
Of the visiting Presidents-elect from
the various Latin American countries
have said and done on the occasions
of the reception. DIR. Pessoa, who
had been sent by his government as
a delegate to the Paris peace confer
ence and who was chosen President
while he was in Europe, returned to
Brazil by way of the United States
srrivin& here in June, 1919. In speak
ing at q dinner in his honor at the
Pan-American Union, after referring
~ "The close relations which have
always existed between our two coun
triesu and TO the ''deciSiYe Influence,