Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
BY CASTOR NERVAL
ME converting in Washington of

TINE converting in Washington Of
the Fourth Pan American Com
mercial Conference, which is
L about sto end its sessions, has
brought to the limelight the
difficulties and financial embarrass-
mentS the Latin American republics are
going through.
Newspapers here have been repro
ducing during the last few days the
statements and views of the Latin
American elegates-worrying reports
of conditions prevailing on the other
side of the Rio Grande as a consequence
Of the worldwide economic depression.
Ofscourse, the Latin American crisis
was no secret to anybody who had
been following the trend of affairs in
that part Of the world. In fact, it had
made itself felt in a more noticeable
way than In other regions, for in Latin
America the economic crisis had poll
tical and social consequences which
were not present elsewhere. The series
Of violent changes of Government
which accompanied it affords the proof
Average Citizen Awakes. -
These, however, were facts with
which only those interested in inter-
American affairs were familiar. The
man in the street" had failed to
establish the exact connection between
the Latin American revolts and the
economic situation of the countries
suffering them. Absorbed IN his own
economic troubles, the average news
paper reader in this country had viewed
the Latin American upsets as mere
expressions Of that supposedly tradi-
tional spirit of restlessness and violence
which years ago was characteristic of
political movements down there.
1t is only recently. and when the
economic crisis of the Southern re-
publics began to affect him directly
to cut down his sales and to imperil
his foreign investments-that the aver
age citizen of the United States realized
the seriousness of conditions over there
Logically, nothing could have af-
forded him a better picture of the sit
uation than this continental confer
ence in Washington, aimed to promote
an increased commercial interchange
between the two Americas and to dis
Gus remedies to alleviate the economic
difficulties of the Latin American ma
tions.
Mexican Planning Commission.
1t is still too early to comment upon
the conclusions reached by the Fourth
Pan-American Commercial Congress.
for at the time these lines are being
written the conference is still in session.
But while the subject is in the lime
light 1t might be interesting to point
out certain trends and measures being
adopted by the Governments of some
OF the Latin American countries most
hardly hit by economic conditions.
paramount among these is the an
nouncement of the establishment of a
National Planning Commission in Mex
leo City. The step is such an i'm
portant innovation in Latin America
that I feel it should be described at
length in a separate article A gen.
eral idea of 1t may be given. however
IT. few brief lines to show the eager
ness with which Mexico has accepted
the theory of planning and government
supervision as a cure for her present
economic ills.
The object of the National Planning
Commission. headed by the secretary
OF communications and public works.
Is TO form a national plan for Mexico
unlike the Russian plan, this will be
strictly a physical plan. Industrializa
ton Is not the goal of the Mexican
planners. 1lliteracy, absence of capital.
the sales-resistance Of the masses and
lack OF machinery make industrializa-
ton and mass production still beyond
the grasp of Mexico
Plan Of Public Works.
But the Mexican plan does not aim
IN That direction. It is a plan of pub
lie works and communications, intended
TO develop MeXico's resources and eco
nomlc pctentialities and to relieve the
present unemployment problem. The
orlg1nators OF the plan define thus
tneir purpose: Our object is to plan
a united, homogeneous and beautiful
Mexico-and an independent, respected
and prosperous Mexico, in which the
Nle OF man will be complete, filled with
noble interests, dignified and as happy
or napier than in any other part of
the world. Know in order to fore
see; foresee in order to work"
Several years are to be passed in
STUDY, survey and research in order to
ind out what Mexico has, what she
needs and how she can get what she
needs. The first part of the plan.
however, including necessary and
urgent works, will start immediately
ana embraces period Of five years.
Inc Mexican planning commission is
10 formulate programs for: A division
OF Mexico into natural economic re-
gions. or functional zones. determining
the best crops, the best industries for
each area; master plan for the fed
eral district. plan for the future de-
Velopment OF railroads, highways and
SohiAAAuAhCaCAOQ 4HeSS plan Tor the
photographic system of the Valley of
Mexico, plan for seaports, a plan for
airportS, plan for the use of waters
primarily in the interest Of irrigation;
plan for reforeStation and national
parks and plan for federal buildings
throughout the republic.
While Mexico starts the formula
ton Of her national plan, Colombia
gives. her chief executive dictatorial
powers to conduct the countrv's
finances. Congress has just passed the
so-called ''law of emergency" which au-
thorizes President Olaya to take any
measures economic and financial,