Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-27
PRESIDENT HOPES
FOR TRIP TO CUBA
Possible Attendance at Pan.
American Congress Viewed
as Friendly Gesture.

President NoOUuSc expressed desire
to attend the Pan-American Congress
at Havana next Spring is only one of
a number of friendly gestures toward
the republics to the South on the part
of the administration which are count
ed upon to do much to Counteract the
unfavorable influence of energetic
propaganda against the United States
in Latin America.
While II would be too much to say
that relations between this country
and its southern neighbors in general
ere strained, it is recognized frankly
that events in Nicaragua and certain
other republics have created a situa
ton much more pleasing to foreign
and native agitatorS than to the United
States.
The President was invited to visit
Cuba some time ago during the stay in
this country of President Machado of
that republic, and he let 1t be known
Yesterday that it is his desire to ac-
cept IL he can make arrangements to
leave Washington a the time the Pan
American Congress is in session early
in 1928. II he finds 1t possible to make
the journey, President Coolidge will
he the first Chief Executive to visit
Latin American soil while in office, al
though President Taft met the Presi.
dent of Mexico on the southern side of
the International Bridge.
Friction i'm Trade Field.
Not only is the diplomacy of the
United states being made the sub
Ject Of assault by agitatorS in the
southern area. but friction in the
field OF commercial relations has been
felt In recent months. That COM
plant comes from minority groups in
each case is considered an indication
that the situation is not serious
Nevertheless, it is not to be ignored.
The United States has cemented
trade relations with Latin America,
VIII Oh were strengthened during the
N4:'~i War, by an intensive study of
and conditions Of that mar
It's exporters and trade mis-
s. In only a few lines have
can competitors been able to
I~..ablish themselves in a dominant
POSITION. although prior to the war
South America looked much more to
.urope for its trade than to this
puntrW
American business has not been
one sided in its dealings with the
Southern republics, for there has
been a steady growth of purchases
of raw materials from these coun.
tries for export to the United States.
The balance of trade in most cases
is against this country; that Is, we
buy more than We sell. This fact
alone will do much to minimize ordi-
nary irritations.
The Department Of Commerce has
recently enlarged it's foreign staff in
Latin America and soon will make
announcement of several other ap-
pointments of trade commissioners
in that territory.
Guarantees Misinterpreted.
There are several cases where
plant guarantees by the Department
B of Agriculture have been misinter-
preted as blows at specific countries
in Latin America, and the tariff
apparently has worked to the disad-
vantage of others.
The appearance Of President Cool
idge before the Pan American Con-
gress at Havana would provide an
excellent opportunity to lay before
oficial delegates from the Southern
republics the position Of the United
States in several of these perplex-
ing situations. The significance of
the Chief Executive going to such a
conference on Southern soil would
not be lost.
Although Cuba has been regarded
as a ward Of the United States, an
unfortunate condition has been created
in the island republic in the last two
years by certain acts, or failures to
act, which have been considered as
deliberately unfriendly. The Cubans
long have desired more generous
treatment for their sugar in this, their
principal market. They also have be-
come sensitive over an old law, which
prohibits importation of cigars or CT.
garettes in packages Of less than 5000.
Congress probably will remedy the
latter situation next Winter, a bill to
that end having been reported favor.
ably shortly before adjournment last
Spring. The sugar situation probably
will have to be worked out by the
Cubans themselves, and they appear
to be doing it.
The Pan-American Congress will
not be held for some months yet, but
the early announcement of President
Coolidge's desire to attend will do
much to help the general movement
10 restore pan-American amity and
good will.
Copyright 1927