Evening star., 1928-11-18
BY GASTON NERVAL.
Authority on Latin American Affairs.

w YHEN the battleShip Maryland
n with its distinguished guest
wv the President-elect of the
United States, goes to South
America a great step toward
&he furtherance of pam -Americanisn
will have been accomplished.
Those who ignore as yet the I'M
measurable benefits that can be derived
from a policy of friendship between
the republics south of the Rio Grande
and Uncle Sam, unfortunately cannot
understand the true significance of such
an event, which very we'll could be
the beginning of new and happier era
of inter-American relations.
Mr.. Hoover's undertaking is one de-
serving of encomium. His good will
tour of the Latin American countries
although unofficial in character, will
undoubtedly have far-reaching effects
In the relations of those countries with
the United States, and it will bring
about better understanding among them
with beneficial results to all.
Pan-AmericaniSm in itself is q
theory of mutual cooperation, in which
they all reciprocate and aid each other
with all that is available. The North
lends its wealth, great spirit Of action
and its unsurpassing tendencies of or
ganization. and the South offers un-
limited natural resources, great COM
mercial fields and unparalleled mar
kets of consumption The great IN
dustries of the United States, which
comprise its main wealth, f1rd great
demand in the Southern republics,
where the low tariffs and lack OF COM
petition favorS the sale of American
commodities In enormous quantltles.
Economic Features Embraced.
At the same time those commodities
In Spanish America which Uncle sam
is in need of, find ready markets ana
are well paid for. Pan-AmerlcanlSm
unoueStionably embraces economic tea-
lures. and to this is due Its constant
an6 inalterable progress, notWltnstano-
ing the many political barriers and
PSYCHOLOGICAL differences which hinder
Ats development.
One of the fundamentals of pam
Americanism being economic, 1t occurs
therefore that its effects must directly
influence the prosperity of those coun-
tries which it affects, and for this rea-
son every effort that is made to do
away with unfounded prejudices and
misunderstanding and to eliminate the
obStructions which impede its progress
will rebound in great advantages. Mr.
Hoover's visit to the Latin American re-
puhlicS is indeed a great move, Tor IL
will serve to clear many of those erro-
neous interpretations and misunder-
standings which are the worst enemies
of pan-Americanisn.
Indication of Good Will.
The proposed visit of the future Pres
ident of the North American Republic
will prove to the Latin Americans that
there exists in fact aafriendly feeling In
the United States toward them. This
- Nf ryNnd will far more
effective and pleasing to those people
than all the means heretofore employed
10 bring about closer relations between
the Americas. Sending such high
enlissary, who within short time VIII
become the Chief Executive, is indlca-
tive of this Nations great spirit OF good
will. His visit is also further proof OF
the unrestrained interest which the
United States takes in its relations with
the Southern republics, and this inter-
est has no doubt very bright future IN
store for each one OF them.
Fail to Understand United States.
The real impeachment which has with
in the last several years impaired the
friendly relations of the American
states has been and is that mlscon-
ception of the true meaning OF the
United States policies toward Latin
America. That erroneous 11terpreta-
ton given to many of the late moves
of the Washington Government, which
attributes to it selfish aims and i'm.
perialistic ambitions, is sowing the seed
of distrust which could very well some
day bear an evil fruit. If Mr.. Hoover's
visit could at least aid in eliminating
from the minds of the people OF Span
ish America that fear which they have
of the United States hegen1ony 1t would
have indeed rendered a great service
TO the cause of pan-AmericaniSm The
self-inpoSed unofficial mission of Mr.
Hoover should tend to show the South
ern republics the good faith with which
the United States deals in its foreign
relations; to prove that those seliish
aims which are attributed to it respect
ing its policies in the Caribbean repub-
lies are unfounded and to impede the
further progress of that feeling of diff
dence, which is the result of an evil
propaganda that has grown out of the
supposed phantom of Yankee imperial
ISM
Boost for Pan-Americanism.
The personal visit of Mr.. Hoover tc
the Latin republics will accomplish more
In this sense than all the labors of the
numerous diplomatic missions put to-
gether, and his assertions will have
more weight and do more for the cause
of pan-AmericanlSn than all the bril-
liant speeches heretofore delivered II
its behalf.
Perhaps greater Importance may
be attributed to the visit of the Presi'
dent-elect in South America, and tha
is the opportunity which will be Of
deStinieS of the United States during
the next four years in acquaintint
himself. personally, with the views O
the Latin Americans.
Mr.. Hoover will be in contact witt
the people of those countries; VII
study closely their problems, thei
necessities and characteristics: VIII con
fer with high government officials ant
gather their views and learn the basl
upon which they propose to found tn
great principle Of pan -AmerlcanlSnl
There is not a more secure and jus
path to follow In finding a satisfactor
solution to vital problems than to learl
and observe the viewpoints of the othe
party concerned.
Good Results ForeSeen.
After his visit in South America MI
Hoover will be in better position
foreign affairs of that part of tn
continent than any other previou
President of the United States. An
undoubtedly for this reason his ad
rninistration will accomplish far bette
results in this respect. Herein has Nj
Hoover once more shown his gres
talent He clearly comprehends, ur
like others, the vast importance whlc
n-Americanism has for the Unite
States. He has reached the concluslo
that the best way to contribute toWar
the success of pan- -AmericaniSm Is I
closely acquainting himself with