Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
BY CASTOR NERvAL,

n before the President of Peru
NJ during his goodwill tour o.
the Latin American repub-
lies, that commercial avia-
tion was to play a most important part
in the international relations of the
Northern and Southern people and thai
he would, during his term Of Office, de-
vote his efforts in a great measure to-
ward the efficient development of aeria
spoke then like man who fully realizes
the exigencies commensurate with oul
present stage of advanced civilization
q man of the twentieth century, where
engineering. electricity, radio and avia-
ton have completely transformed the
world. and in which nations, like in
6ividuals. are governed by the laws Of
economics and keep pace with the
strides of science.
AS a modern statesman, Mr.. Hoover
IS we'll aware of the true significance
which q factor so essential as aviation
has in bringing nations closer together,
and as q man who can see into the
future, he realizes that the day is not
far distant when that ideal of an aerial
Vinculum between the Americans may
become a reality.
Prophecy Comes True.
The first aerial flight to Panama re-
Gently completed by Col Lindbergh. in
augurating q permanent airplane Serv-
ice between Florida and Central Amer
lea, goes to prove the PreSident-elect
was right when he predicted the aerial
union of the people of the north and
the south, and the establishment OF
airplane commercial routes, which would
immeasurably foster the cause Of pan
Americanism.
With the recent arrival at Miami,
Fla, Col. Lindbergh ended a flight of
approximately 5000 miles, which In
cluded Cuba and several Of the Central
: American republics, thus completing
the inaugural fight OF the Ran-Ameri-
can Always between the United States
and Panama. Several hundred sacks of
mail were carried and delivered at their
destinations many days sooner than
the time consumed by the regular
steamship service now in operation be-
tween the points involved.
The success of this flight has
strengthened the possibility of carrying
csit the projects Of the Pan-American
Anyways, who are looking forward to
extending this net of aerial communica-
lions far into the south until a per-
manent and efficient service is estab-
Mshed between cities In this country
and the capitals of the South Amer
lean republics.
Those who are well acquainted with
commercial and communication prob
lens and of their influence upon In
ternational relations viii fully realize
the transcendency Of the undertaking
of the Pan-American Anyways. The
first to derive the benefits viii be the
s.-k kn a.
of the aerial transportation, the move
ment of commercial reciprocity, among
the Latin American republics and be-
tween those and the United States.
will unqueStionably be encouraged. Not
only because innumerable commodities
of small volume win be directly con-
veyed by airplane, but because the air
mail service, rapid, and immediate in
itself, viii greatly facilitate commercial
operations and all other business trans
actions, even those of the greatest i'm
portance, although only the offers and
acceptances may be conveyed by air.
Time Shortens Considerably.
To negotiate and close deals in "a
or 48 hours Is indeed quite an inn
provement over the present service,
which requires from two to three weeks
time between New York and the most
important commercial centers Of South
America. II 1t Is fact that the COM
mercial relations between the Latin
Americans and Uncle Sam have been
steadily increasing within the past years,
when the aerial routes are formally eS-
tablished those relations will increase
to proportions heretofore undreamed of
by the most optimistic minds.
Speaking Of better and closer relations
between these republics, 1t is needless to
say that they viii gain .mmeasurably by
the establishment Of net Of aerial
communications. It Is self-evident that
good understanding between nations
grows out of the knowledge which they
have Of each other. and no other means
are more expeditions and modern than
air line routes to impart that necessary
knowledge. Furthermore the distances
separating these people are naturally
shortened and they are brought closer
together. Precisely, today, one of the
main troubles of Pan AmericaniSm may
be traced to distances and to lack of
proper means Of communications. The
Latin American republics are too distant
from the United States to make possible
true understanding with the northern
people. In fact. the latter are nearer to
Europe than to the rest of the American
Continent, for only four or five days
separate New York from the Old World,
and to reach Southern American shores,
that Is, the principal cities, such as
Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago
and Lima, from Is to 20 days or perhaps
more are required. To this lack of
faster means of communications, and to
these long and tiresome voyages, is due
the little interest and enthusiasm until
now displayed to encourage tours of the
Latin American republics; and these
have been likewise the underlying rea-
sons why not a greater number of
southern tourists have visited the do
mains Of Uncle Sam.
Just What Is Needed.
Today does not exist in reality true
current Of reciprocity between North
and South America--ttat is to say, a
permanent and continuous current with
a set course capacle of conveying to the
men of one race the experiences and
ways of living and thinking of the
other. This Is just what is needed:
That great numbers of North American
people visit the South, learn from per-
Sonal observation Of the existing condi-
tons there, study their environment
learn to speak their language, get In
contact with the Spanish-Americans
and acquaint themselves with then
problems and necessities, so that when
they return to the United States they
win be able to talk about pan-Amer-
icaniSm In It's true sense and cooper
ate in solving existing differences; and
likewise that Southern Americans visit
the United States, learn English, study
the characteristics and ways of think
ing Of the Saxons, acquaint themselves
with the true designs of this people
and their ideals and learn that COM
mercial interests alone are not the fac
tors which prompt them to seek the
friendship Of Latin America. To &C.
complish this end, so vital to the cause
Of pan-Americanism, the establishment
Of air routes, which will reduce the dis.
tances to minimum and do away with
other inconvenience, will bring the ma.