Evening star., 1928-01-01
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

A MERICAN relations grow in Importance
~ Nothing Is more significant or TINS lact
"A than President Coolidges coming WISH
1 \ to Havana at the time of the opening
Of the Sixth International Conference OF Ameri'
can States.
Critics of the United States in republics to
the south and in Europe have charged ths
country with imperialistic designs upon the
whole Western Hemisphere. Critics or the
Coolidge administration and its policies toward
certain Latin American states in this country,
too have raised their voices in similar attack.
The policy of the United States toward the
other American republics has been one OF
friendship from the first. The presence OF
President Coolidge when the conference on
American affairs opens in the Cuban capital
will be regarded as n formal manifestation OF
the friendly feeling which the administration
and the country have toward the other Ameri'
republics. 1t will present an opportunity
to the President to state anew the friendship
in which the United States holds the countries
Of Central and South America. The President
is to deliver an address-an address which may
prove OF vast Importance. If he chooses, he
may state again the position of this country
in its American relations and lay the ghost
of American imperialism.
X X
Because OF the duty which the American
Government, owes its citizens and the cause
of peace the United states has felt called upon
to act in recent years in several of the coun-
tries bordering the Caribbean Sea. 1t has
interviewed in revolution-torn Nicaragua and
used its good offices to restore peace and build
up economically that country, and also has
acted similarly in Haiti and Santo Domingo
The United States also has taken firm
stand with regard to the protection of Ameri-
can lives and property along the Mexican bor-
der and in Mexico. During the Wilson admin
istration, American forces were landed in Vera
Cruz and a punitive expedition was sent into
Mexico after Villa, headed by Gen. Pershng.
These steps by the United States. taken for
the protection OF its citizens and for the fur.
therance of peace In the Western Hemisphere,
have been denounced in some OF the Latin
American press evidence of imperalistic de.
signs of this country. Since the projection OF
the Sixth International Conference of American
States reports have appeared in the press. both
in Latin America and in the United States, to
the effect that the Central and South American
republics and Mexico would seek to curb the
American policy would arise at the conference.
IndIca tions are. however. on the eve OF the
conference. that better spirit will prevail
Critics of the American policies in some of the
Latin American countries have believed that
Mexican representatives at the Pan-American
upon the United States. But In recent months
the relations between the governments of the
two republics of North America ha vs. improved
The controversy over the oil fields I'm Mexico.
developed by American citizens and American
capital Is In n fair way 10 he settled. The
Supreme Court of Mexico has held against
retroactive features OF the Mexican land and
petroleum laws which would prevent Americans
from holding title to oil lands. President