Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-02-18
Oppose Mexican Quota Plan

That placing r immigration from Mexico and other
Latin American countries upon a quota basis VIII
react adversely to the interests Of the United States,
is indicated by the attitude Of the L~atln-American
delegates at the Pan-American congress IN Havana
The delegates were practically unanimous in asserting
that every Latin-American country would deeply resent
such action by the American government, and that u
would erect an economic barrier which would seriously
affect American trade in those countries.
The Mexican delegation took the position that i'm
migration Between the countries Of the western hemis-
phere should be unrestricted. but that no country
should permit its citizens to leave for another country
unless they had contracts assuring thenpmpk IN the
country to which they desired to cmigr1n t1he dele
cation also insisted that provisions be ntsf that the
country receiving them should guarantee that they
would be treated with absolute equality as compared
The American delegation took ths-~Mi that they
could not be party to an arrangement Of this charactre,
as they we're appointed by tho president, and the I'M
migration laws were distinctly a function Of congress'
also that they could not conduct negotiations IN regard
TO the tariff barrier the United States has erected
They pointed out that tha| resent policy Of the United
States toward Mexican EMANCIPATION has been most
liberal, but insisted it was impossible for this country
to attempt to bind itself by a treaty on a.question
which is purely domestic and exclusively a function o.
congress.
One Of the most deplorablc features Of the situation
IN the fact that it IA il now evident the efforts OF inc
limited States to conciliate the Latin-American repub-
lies will prove Of LITTLE avail II the immigration re-
~striction p(losed BY congress goes into effect. lner'
can be no doubt that it will be deeply resented BY inc
peoples Of those countries below the Rio Grande, WIG
win regard 1t in the nature Of a national insult anf
will show their resentment In a manner which VIII Sc
riously affect American commerce.
The United States has for years endeavored Z
crps.e a better understanding with Latin America, ans
every effort has been handicapped by some awkwar'
situation arising such as IS now created oy the pto
posed quota provision. American commerce mas sus
tanned heavy losses, American prestige has suffered
merely because the American government has persist
emily refused to understand Latin America ana c'h
crdc 10 those peoples the courtcsies due ~neishocrs
The history Of the last century shows that every tira
nm nuproach has been made 70 a better uncerstanuihi
and closer relations between the peoples OF the wester
her;xpere something Of this nature has arisen 70 &c
stroy confidence and maintain the suspicion and as
trust with, which the United States j. regarded =
Latin America.
The question for this country to consider Is: Woui
-. h,rr;rv az n few thousand Mexican laborers iror
the cotton and vegetable fields Of the southwest com
rensate for the loss Of commerce and friendship whic
i certain to follow tho imposition Of the propose
onota restriction? In what way would the Unite
States be the gamer? viii the oankrupting y Sou'N
western farmers through the loss Of seasonal labor a
-. nation or the loss OF Latin American commerce
ia industry? win organized labor gain by reducin
the production OF foodstuffs and curtaiiing the prs
duction OF American industries?
The United States is not in position to pay the COS
that barring Of Latin American immigration VIII q
,.l Our industries need the business Latin Americ
can provide; the farmers OF the southwest heed ~
seasonal labor Latin America now provides. surei
,he few thousand Mexican laborers who cross the boz
a.r annually to work in the cotton fields arc not sue
menace 10 the United States that this country ca
afford to make heavy sacrifices Of commerce az
friendship to enforce their exclusion.