Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20
LOOKING AT THE TARIFF


protectionist American tariff are
being felt in Latin America.
i Following protests from their
local chambers of commerce and
from the press In general, two Latin
American governments moved last week
to remedy or neutralize the purported
harmful effects of the new tariffs. I'm
like the European nations, however,
they did not undertake these measures
as q retaliation, or with the more or
less dissembled intention of getting
even" with Uncle Sam. They know that
the United States is entirely within her
rights In passing the duties she thinks
necessary to protect her own industries
and her domestic prosperity. They
know that, above everything else and
even at the risk of a bit of international
prestige, the American Government has
to look after the general well being and
the economic good of its own people.
The Latin governments would not act
differently If they were to choose, them
selves, between the interests of foreign
competitors and those Of their own
people.
It is true that in some instances the
American legislators have raised duties
on certain commodities to the heights,
but this Is a matter to be taken up by
the American Government alone, and
ITOHl Tie cI1eCJS Oh WHICH ALHbTlCdH
commerce itself will be the first to
suffer.
Therefore. instead Of sending out
pompous official declarations or ''ulti-
matumS," which sound extravagant
when aimed at country of such ire
mendouSly larger resources and wealth
as the United States, the Latin govern
ments are taking steps to palliate the
damage caused by the tariff walls which
are cutting down their exports to this
country, their best customer by far.
The Cuban government has announced
a wide-open program or diversification
of industry, in order to spread in Vari-
Gus directions the national energies that
have been heretofore exclusively en-
gagged in the sugar industry. On this
the whole economic standing of Cuba,
so far, has been dependent. The OBJ
stacles Of the new higher tariff have
made Cuba realize the danger of being
a single crop country, and the Cuban
authorities are now undertaking to solve
the basic problem of Cuban prosperity
by creating and encouraging new in
dustries and new trade possibilities.
Until today the economic situation Of
the island republic has been but the
reflex of her national industry. the
sugar cane. 1t can almost be said that
her entire population has been engaged
in toiling in the cane fields. The gen.
eral well being of her citizens has de-
pended upon the fluctuations Of sugar
prices in the world markets. And for
world markets" We might just as well
say New York markets. for three
fourths of the total Cuban sugar crop
is consumed in this country. Hence,
any modification of the sugar duties
must necessarily have enormous infiu-
an
before this was shown, when a general
depression in the island followed the
increase of the American sugar tariff
in 1924. This year an even more seri-
Gus crisis is expected as result OF the
further increase in tariffs, just sane
toned in the Hawley- Smoot bill. 1t is
with view to remedying this extremely
"interdependent" state of affairs that
the Cuban government moves now to-
ward diversiflcstion of industry.
The Mexican government, almost at
the same time, reaches the conclusion
that, although an immediate crisis may
high duties placed on Mexican products
entering the United States, this can be
remedied to a large extent by the In
classification of local industries and by
the creation of new markets for those
Mexican articles heretofore exported TO
the United States"
After showing that the new tariff will
affect Mexican exports to this country
to the exent of 10000, 900 pesos ($l5,-
100000, the Mexican minister OF
finance states: THE new United states
tariff should not be considered in any
way as ruinous, but should serve as an
incentive to Mexican producers TO seek
new markets in Europe, CANADA, Cen
trail and South America. The success
of such efforts might result in economic
benefit for Mexico"
From all of which it may well be de-
duced that instead of hindering Latin
American prosperity, the new tarin
might even rebound to its benefit. That
is the. goal of good craftsmanship; 10
transform damaging blows into ele-
ments of success.
FEMINISM IN LATIN AMERICA.
Through American newspapers, books,
movies and radio, American ways OF llV-
ing and American social standards are
flowing daily to the South and becoming
merged with the romantic ana tradi-
tional life of the Spanish-born coun-
tries, who exert themselves to keep
pace with Uncle Sam.
Some of these changes, however,
seem to be q little too radical ana
sudden for actual conditions on the
other side of the Rio Grande. And no.
where can this be more clearly seen
than in the eagerness, or the hastiness,
with which Latin American women en-
deavor to copy, not only the fashions
which would be narmless-but the ac-
tivities, the points of view, the occupa-
tons of the women Of this country.