Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03
In LATIN AMERICA
By GASTON NERVAL.

Roosevelt policy of the big stick" No
other attitude of the United States has
given rise to more suspicion or caused
greater harm to the progress OF good
international relations in the Americas
than the so-called Roosevelt doctrine,
setting forth not only the right but the
duty of Uncle Sam to exercise an inter-
national police power in Latin America,
The pride of the Latin Americans has
always made them bitterly fight this
principle, to which may be attributed
the origin of the Yankee imperialism"
legend down below the Rio Grande.
That a clearer understanding of this
and other aspects Of American
problems may be attained as conse-
quence of these open, frank discussions
Is the earnest desire of all interested in
the promotion of better and ever-grow-
ing inter-American relations.
A Friend of Uncle Sam.
August Z will be day of particular
significance this year for the cause of
pam Americanism. A good friend of the
United States will be inaugurated on
that date President of Colombia, one of
the largest and most important Latin
republics of the continent. Senior En-
rique Olaya Herrera, the new Chief Ex-
ecutive of Colombia, was the diplomatic
representative of his country in the
United States for the last eight years,
and only two months ago, after his cleo
ton to the presidency, he was here
winding up his work as Colombian Min
lister in Washington
In recent years suspicion of and lack
of sympathy toward Uncle Sam had
been felt in certain Colombian quarters,
movement doubtless encouraged by
enemies OF this country or by those in
terested In hampering the commercial
relations of the two states. For this
purpose they had availed themselves of
certain differences existing between the
Colombian government and American
oil interests, and raised the favorite war
cry of American imperialism" And
although the relations between the two
countries have never ceased to be nor
mally cordial, the radical elements of
Colombia, the Socialists and the left
wing" had been boasting lately of the
success of their mischievous propaganda
to such an extent that some people were
wondering whether Colombia might not
be really turning her back on Uncle
Sam.
And then what happenedP The man
Who had been the most earnest advo-
cate in Colombia of friendship toward
the United States was elected Presi-
dent-a man whose name had been
closely associated with that of the
United States in the minds of his coun-
trymen, whose voice had been heard a
hundred times In defense of the United
States, and whose pen had written a
hundred pages in support of PAN
American ideals; man who pledged
friendship, trust and good will toward
the great nation of the North" in
his own political platform; man
who, after living eight years as the
Minister of his country among the
| Americans, had learned to understand
and to like them, as do most Latin
Americans when they really know
them: man who, in short was the
leader, the typical exponent of that
tendency toward trust in and co-opera-
ton with the United States.
Public Opinion Shown.
The overwhelming majority by which
Senior Olaya was elected clearly show
ed that public opinion in Colombia, in
spite of political intrigue, is friendly
| TO the United States, toward American
capital and American enterprise. No
matter what the agitators may say, the
| Colombian people then proved them
| selves to be on the right side, by sup
porting the man with the right cause.
And this man will be inaugurated
as President of Colombia on Thursday
next. If for the United States the
Inauguration of Senior Olaya has a re-
markable significance, 1T will also have
an extremely favorable effect on Co
lombia's international position, and,
therefore, a beneficial influence on Co
lombian credit 1t will probably be
easier now for Colombia to contract
| the loans she needs to carry on her
public works program and to better
her financial standing, for she will
have the confidence and cooperation
of American bankers. And all Colon
bians know what this means to them.
Enrique Olaya Herrera, the new
| President of Colombia, has all the
| qualities requisite for success: Youth
courage, eloquence, faith. Only 20
years ago he was leading in university
protests against the dictatorship in his
country. His marvellous addresses and
inspired eloquence have won him first
place among Colombian orators. One
South American writer said of him:
He has been able, like Orpheus, to
tame wild beasts with the music OF his
words, and to make the mobs that
came to stone him carry him home on
their shoulders"
High Tariff.
Imports and exports from and Il
Latin America have declined In the last
six months, according TO oficial report:
from the Department Of Commerce o
the United States. After a period o.
several years of constant increase, thu
trade figures with the Latin American
republics have begun to go down.
The enemies Of protectionist tarifft
blame such decline on the recently In.
! creased imNert duties passed by the
United StaeS Congress. They charge
these excessive high tariffs with cuttinl