Evening star., 1928-01-29
Two Weeks at Havana.


national Conference Of American States
at Havana will enter its third week. So
far there has been little disposition
among the delegates to get down to
brass tacks. The time has been devoted
largely to talk and much of the talk
has been pointlsss. But the last two
weeks have been important, though
productive of few tangible results. They
have permitted some of the Latin
Americans to unburden themselves of
views uttered solely for home consump-
ton. Yet their utterance has led to no
blows, no heads have been broken and
no blood has been spilled. The atmos-
phere is clearer. The delegates know
each other and from now on thsy may
be expected to concern themselves more
with the drudgery of the hard work be-
fore them than to the enticing display
of forensic fireworks
That the conference thus enters its
third week with clear sailing still in
prospect is all the more interesting
when the nature of some of the pro.
posals placed before 1t is considered.
Had these proposals been less skillfully
dealt with by Mr.. Hughes and his col
leagues. more than one Of them might
have headed the whole business toward
the rocks. At the outset. the ready
asquiescence Of Mr.. Hughes to open and
free discussion OF any question showed
clearly that he feared no brickbats and
would meet them standing up. His
later and frank exposition Of the Amer
lean policy in Nicaragua, though it was
not made in the conference, took the
wind out Of more than one billowing
sail
With an assurance no less than
amazing. Ambassador Pueyrredon Of
Argentina declared that unless the del
egates take cognizance Of his proposal
that the Pan-American Union concen-
trate on removing discriminatory tariffs
and quarantine barriers to trade be.
tween the Americas. Argentina will give
no ear to other plans for reorganizing
the union. The Ambassador knows, for
he Is an intelligent and able statesman,
that the Pan-American Union stands
about as much chance Of adjusting In
ternational tariff and quarantine dis
putes as the Ladies' Aid Society. or any
other worthy organization. He also
knows that when he is hitting at the
United States he Is not hitting at the
tariff, but at the regulation barring
beef infected with hoof- -and mouth dis
ease. He knows that the issue Is not
whether chilled beef is so infected, but
whether the infection Is communicable
TO cattle in the United States. Argen-
tina says 1t is not The Department of
Agriculture says 1t Is. But instead OF
raising this point. the American dele
CATION quietly suggested that the tariff
Is domestic issue that does not lend
itself TO international discussion.
Prom Bolivia came an impassioned
plea for an outlet TO the Pacific. The
delegates from Chile and Peru heard It
with interest. They know that the dis
tinguished gentleman from Bolivia Is
talking 10 his fellow Boliyians back
home. just as the Argentine delegate is
talking to the Argentine farmers, and
that neither believes the Pan-American
Conference win do anything as a result.
FROM Mexico came the proposal that
each country send special representa-
tiyes TO Washington TO represent them
on the governing board of the Pan
American Union. thus removing their
diplomatic representatives from the in
sidious and domineering influence Of
the American Secretary OF State. In
stead OF resenting the implication. Mr..
Hughes said 'Excellent!" and moved
that the proposal be adopted, together
with Peru's proposal that each country
decide for itself whether TO send q spe-
ciai representative 10 the Pan-American
Union or TO allow It's diplomatic repre-
sentatiyes 70 serve on the board. Both
proposals were carried. representation
on the board remains virtually In status
quo and every one Is satisfied.
In this manner many OF the yexing
issues which might disrupt the con-
ference are being disposed OF without
offenEs. Chips that were worn on
shoulders are falling of. for nobody
seems disposed 10 knock them of.
Speechn2king intended for political
capitalization back home is accepted
as such, instead OF as . challenge.
And while this ia going Oh other dele
gates and expert advisers In commit
tees which receive little publicity are
removing technical barriers which
stand in the way OF agreement on I'M
portant. II embarrassing. subjects. 10
far the conference has been worth
while. 50 far the gloomy prognostica.
tions Of its probsbls disruption have
failed u materiaiizs