Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
HOOVER EXPECTED TO AID
LATIN AMERICA RELATIONS
Extraordinary Qualities of President,
Coupled With Goodwill Tour, Seen
as Help in Settling Problems.

here and the United States clearly un-
derstood in Mexico.
With the Central American republics,
however, the future does not hold such
a flattering perspective. Although their
governments appear to be friendly
| toward the United States and a few of
them, in fact. are inclined to follow the
policies of the White House, yet public
sentiment continues to gain momentum
against any attempt involving interior
ence in their internal affairs by a
stronger nation.
Intervention Considered Menace.
Even though the United States has
repeatedly stated that she has no abor-
| zionist designs and that the sole motive
Of interventions is to protect the lives
and property of her nationals residing in
| those countries. still the Central Ameri-
cans believe that no matter how friendly
or peaceful those interferences might
be conducted, they are menace to their
sovereignties and endanger their eco
nomic independence. Any move made to
| involve the United States In another adj
! venture of intervention might provoke
diSagreeable consequences. BY only full
filling his promise of maintaining pol
icy of equality and respect for the small
Sovereignties will President Hoover
bring about closer relations with the
Caribbean countries.
There is another problem now con-
fronting Central America, the political
and economic consequences of which
undoubtedly will preoccupy the Hoover
certain North American enterprises OPP
Grating in those republics. Pursuing
wholly pecuniary interests, these cor
porations are engaged in securing polit-
ical influence that will permit them
certain privileges and concessions very
often detrimental to the welfare OF the
country wherein they operate. To at
tain their purpose, there are instances
when they interfere either slyly or
openly in their internal politics.
This has been carried to such an ex-
treme that the case has arisen where
Presidents have been elected or depoSed
because of the influence exercised by
some foreign enterprise; revolutionary
movements encouraged in like manner.
and governments expressly constituted
to grant the desires Of a particular cor
poration.
Fruit Battle" Cited.
In this connection, 1t may be well to
remember that some time ago a con-
troversy arose between two fruit COM
panies which nearly provoked an armed
conflict of two Central American courl-
tries. Such state of affairs naturally
must be unfavorable to the relations OF
those nations so affected and the
United States, who in the end pays in
directly for such disturbances. In abat-
ing or correcting that unfavorable at
titude of those American enterprises in
Central America, will the new Chief
Executive face quite task. To ac-
complish this, they should be denied
the official backing of the Washington
Government. which they abuse, and left
to follow their own course, subjected to
the laws Of the country wherein they
operate.
With Cuba, the principal buyer of the
United States in Latin America. there
exist also certain matters which need
adjustment. The two most outstanding
are: The problem involving the sugar
tariff, an economic one. and the Plat
amendment, of political character.
The first mentioned has reached alarm
ing proportions within the past several
months, due to the fact that the Con-
gress of the United 0enAes has been con-
sidering the increase IN tarifrs on agri-
cultural products, a. result Of the
persistent demands Of the American
farmers.
Chiefly among thee is the Cuban
sugar.
Should the duty on this particular in
dustry be increased approximately 100
per cent over the one now in effect
the economic affairs of the island would
suffer greatly, for it is on this product
that Cuba's economic prosperity de-
ponds. Should this come to pass, her
Sx-tll 9n;r
public as whole would undergo a
financial crisis And what is more she
would be no longer Uncle Sans best
customer.
Island May Strike Back.
As result Of this proposed increase
the island is on the verge of declaring a
war of tariffs" against American prod
uctS, and, should 1t be sanctioned, the
consequences would still be far more
serious. At any rate, it will be very
difficult for the Hoover Government to
solve this vital problem. in which the
interests and demands of the farmers in
this country are entirely opposed to the
American interests in Cuba and to the
commercial and international relations
of both republics.
The other problem, that of the Plat
amendment. would not be the cause of
so much alarm IL the former Is salts
factorily adjusted. However, If such is
not the case, the Cuban attitude re-
specting this amendment, which author
ICES the Intervention of the United
States in the island and allows her GER
tain concessions derived from her par
ticipation in Cuba's war of independ-
ence, will indeed become more antago-
nistic
With South America things stand
more or less the same. 1t will be neces-
sary to do away with existing misunder-
standings, bring to an end the selfish
aims of certain American corporations,
guarantee the equity Of loans extended
! to governments of those countries and
! see that the high tariffs do not inter-
fere with their commerce or impair
their friendly relations with this coun-
| try. Argentina and Brazil are interested
| specially in the tariff question. And to
the former this has serious bearing
in her economic life.
In addition, there are other problems
now facing South America which Mr..
Hoover will have to consider: The oil
reforms in Ecuador, the Tacna-Arica
dispute, submitted to the United States
| for arbitration. and innumerable others
emanating from the vast investments of
American capital in Argentina. Chile.
Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia and
still others, where American interests
amount to thousands of millions OF dol
lars.
EIooI of C:f%e. C