Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
HOOVER, SATISFIED WITH GOODWILL TOUR
AS CE1ENTING SOUTH AMERICAN AN1ITY.
SPENDS CHRISTMAS ON BATTLESF1P AT SEA
Ten Republics Visited on
$4,000 Mile Tour of
President Elect.
NEW YEAR FETE HELD
Simplicity Marks Debarka-
ton of Party in Hamp-
ton Roads.

wi bhV0A0s
NOTE-This is the concluding
article OF the series in Which Mr..
Collier, The Stars representative on
Prestdent-elect HooUer'S goodwill
tour OF South America, retold the in
innate phases OF that historic mis-
sion.
BY REX COLLIER.
BY happy coincidence, the Hoover
pilgrimage of friendship reached its
climax as the world began observance
Of the Yuletide season of peace and
good Will among men,"
There was reason for special rejoice
ing in the western world.
Inspired by the personal example of
an extraordinary ambassador of good
fellowship, the peoples of that hemi-
sphere found themselves, this Christ
mas, stepping forward with newborn
determination on the pathway of pan
American amity.
There was reason for rejoicing on
the battleship of good will.
daring diplomatic mission had been
completed with phenomenal success.
Faring forth two months before upon
uncertain seas, the Hoover expedition
and understanding, and now was home
ward bound. Contrary to first predic-
tions. fair sailing had been encountered
all the way. No member of the party
could conceal his sense of satisfaction
over difficult task well done.
Indeed, the whole world seemed to
share in the feeling of qualification that
marked the happy termination of the
history making tour. Hundreds of mes
Sages OF congratulation were radioed to
the battleship Utah as she steamed
steadily northward. They came not
only from the nations which the Ameri-
can President-elect had visited during
his whirlwind journey below the Equator,
but from lands across the sea as well.
They were not merely greetings appro-
pirate to the holiday period, but sin
cere expressions of admiration in recog-
milton of great achievement in the
cause of world peace.
Visited 10 Republics.
The trip. in retrospect, was pleasant
to contemplate. Mr.. Hoover had set
foot upon 10 Latin American republics
and had entertained officials Of another
aboard the battleship. Fourteen thou
sand miles of land and ocean had been
covered without mishap. There had
been no embarrassing international ep-
isodes." On the other hand, the Hoover
brain was crammed with delightful
memories.
The President-elect had said, at the
outset, that he desired only to listen
and learn" He had listened well and
he had learned much. He was pleased
his ears had caught no sound Of se-i-
Gus discord to threaten the harmony OF
the American republics. There had
been some rumblings of minor nature,
mostly over minor boundary disputes,
but there was abundant evidence OF
general desire to maintain international
conSonance.
He had learned that Latin America
is not "anti-American," as propagar-
dists are won't to picture 1t. There was
no gainsaying the fact that there had
been agitation against Uncle sam IN
some Of the Southern republics, but
this was attributed to discredited Tor
eign elements. The Latins themselves
had demonstrated their friendship IN
a most convincing and overwhelming
manner.
He had seen vast continent rich In
natural resources, maryelouSly touched
by the artistry of Nature and inhabited
by peoples of noble aspirations.
Moreover, the story OF these lands
and this southern civilization had been
spread upon the front pages OF every
newspaper in the United States. There
had been a Nation wide awakening OF
interest in Uncle Sans neighbors below
the Rio Grande The peoples OF IT,
two continents were getting better ac-
ouainted, and this mountaineering
paved the way for mutual understand
ing and general good feeling.
- - NJ AVSN0 haan
told in more than three hundred thou
sand words Of press dispatches, and IL
Illuminated with some $1,000 feet OF mo-
ton picture film and 1000 Photographic
plates. The end of the story was not
yet, for thousands Of other words would
be written by the score OF correspond
ents upon their return. to the States.
Attitude Is Agreeable.
Latin America, too, had learned some
interesting and altogether pleasing
things.
She had found that the average
Yankee" is not the money-mad, swag-
eering individual that some OF his
enemies would lead the uniformed TO
believe. She was agreeably surprised
to learn that Americas President-elect
was a very human person who regarded
the smaller American republics with
genuine respect and who was not TOO
sophisticated to admit that there were
lessons which North America could
learn from her sister nations TO The
South.
To put it conservatively, founda-
ton had been laid for new epoch Of
political, social and economic inter-
course between the Americas.
Christmas of 1928, therefore, had a
special Significance to those on board
the u. s. S. Utah, and particularly to
the President-elect and his devoted
wife. The Yule spirit was rife. All
Joined In the merriment of the season
with a spontaneity that was exhila-
rating.
MRS. Hoover took personal charge of
the celebration. She had arranged for
the purchase of an evergreen tree in
Rio, and this was erected on the upper
deck and decorated with colored balls
and glittering tinsel. Navy carpenters
constructed q fireplace" in which
fire" was kindled with the aid of col
ored paper and electric lights. A large
U-shaped table was constructed for the
coming feast.
The observance began Christmas eve
with the singing of carols by the crew,
assembled on the quarterback beneath
warm, moonlit skies. Mrs. Hoover
Joined in the familiar choruses of the
old hymns, and asked to have several
of them repeated.
Christmas Day Warm.
Christmas day brought tropical wealth
er, as the ship was still 10 degrees be-
low the Equator. Chaplain H. E. Roun-
tree held brief devotional services on
| deck, reading the age-old story of
Bethlehem and speaking a few we'll
chosen words on the general theme of
good will"
The days festivities ended in grand
banquet on the upper deck, just outside
| the Hoover suite. Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover
had invited all the ships officers and