Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-09
in LATIN AMERICA
By CASTOR NERVAL.

with Prof. Healy have been doing
in the past century, Doth in this coun-
try and down on the other side Of the
Rio Grande.
Return to Normally.
With Brazil joining the list Of Latirf
American revolts, there are four now
of the southern republics under control
of revolutionary provisional govern
ments. Although three of them have
already been recognized almost unani-
mously as the established de facto gov
ernments in those countries, they still
have to comply with certain constituS
tional provisions before they put their
nations back into normal political con-
ditionS.
The first one to do this, it seems
probable, will be the Bolivian military
junta. which has already called, for
next January, general elections for the
constitution of a new civil government
by popular free vote. The Bolivian
political parties have contributed large
ly to the success of the government
junta in promoting national harmony
by agreeing to run a joint single ticket
in the presidential contest, in which
all three parties will be equally repre-
scented.
as yet decided when the popular ball
loting for the selection of new execu-
tive shall be held, and there is no in
dication that the tunta is going to be
in q hurry to do so. The de facto
government Is too much concerned for
the time being with the task of clean
ing up after the former administration,
and with settling the critical economic
problems, to want to be bothered with
EOkN Aevsr n
litical parties, on the other hand, have
not yet completed their reorganization
in Peru-a difficult thing, indeed. after
III years OF almost absolute and en-
forced inaction under the rule of the
deposed dictator, President Leguia.
Although taking control later than
the Peruvian one, the Argentine mill
tary junta viii probably soon be able
to give up its temporary rule. A COM
plete realignment Of political fronts is
taking place in Argentina and the trend
appears to be toward national unifica-
ton. This may permit the early eStab-
lishnent Of a new executive body in
which all the principal parties par
ticipate. The date is not as yet known,
however, when such action will ma
teriahze, and it would not be venture
/ some to say that this may take a good
deal more time than it did in Bolivia,
where the difficulties of federal form
OF government did not have to be met.
All in all, Bolivia will most probably
be the first disturbed South American
state to return to normal political con-
ditions. Which, after all, is only natu-
raj, since she was the first one to upset
them. This time, at least, the famous
saying, 1.-THE last shall be first" has
not come true.
made I'm u. s. A." but
| With the election Of new Congress
| the question again comes up as to
whether it is advisable for Uncle SAM
from an international point Of view, to
| halt tmportationS Of foreign-made goods
and foreign raw materials with the aid
of a protective tariff wall more i'm
pregnable than the classic Chinese wall
was to the enemies of the old Celestial
Empire.
During the discussions on the recent
| ly approved Hawley-Smoot tariff act
which aroused so much disquiet and
protest in other countries, the danger
was pointed out that the highly pro-
tectionistic duties proposed would not
only be a serious blow to the export
trade of foreign nations in commerce
with the United States, but that this
country, too, would suffer the conse-
quenceS. Two main arguments were ad-
duced in this respect: One, that the
| depression caused by the tariff In for
eign countries would naturally be re-
flected in a decrease of their buying
power, thus diminishing their orders
for American products and their gen.
eral trade with Uncle Sam; and, Sec
ond, that there were certain raw ma
terials which, either not existing at al
| in the territory Of the United States
or else existing in very small quanti-
ties, could not be heavily taxed without
injuring the very interests of the con-
Suners in this county. In both cases
the products of some Of the Latin
American nations were among the most
seriously affected items.
Although foreign trade has been sut-
| fering considerable cuts since the pas
sage of the tariff BILL 1t has not yet
been definitely established whether
these are due to the high import duties
or only logical result of worldwide
economic depression which Is being felt
everywhere. At any rate, this first ar
gument of the -protectionists has
lost the limelight, for foreign govern
mentS realize that it Is not their BUSH
ness to interfere with internal economic
legislation in the United States. But
the second argument Is stu alive, and
this is the one which will probably oc-
cupy the attention of number Of newly
elected Congressman when revision Of
the tariff act is asked.
It Is no longer possible to fail TO rec
ognize the fact that no country in the
| world Is self-sufticient. They all need
70 some extent the products or raw ma
teEials Of Their neighbcr4 no matkeE