Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-18
GOOD WILL AND TRADE
PROMOTED BY AMERICAS
Wide Scope Covered in Resolutions
Adopted at Sessions Heterogeneous
on Arms and Debts Reached.
BY CASTOR NERyAL.

A FTER listening to the farewell
"A s. ! s * i q u.s.; Il: E; :$s
lies, gathered here for the
Fourth Pan-American Commercial Con-
ference, adjourned last Tuesday In the
Hall Of the Americas.
In that same place they had pre-
viouslY heard President Hoover, Secre-
tary Of State Stimson, Secretary OF
the Treasury Mellon, Secretary Of
Commerce Lamont, the President of
the United States Chamber of Com
merce, Prof. Kemmerer, Mr. Chadbourne
ard other men of prominence in the
economic activities of this country tell
them of the coed will and spirit OF CO.
operation with which the United States
was ready to assist Latin America dur
ing these times of distress.
They had heard their own colleagues
tell of the critical economic and f1nan-
cial conditions their countries were go
ing through as a consequence Of the
worldwide depression. And they had
heard the proposals submitted by the
various delegations in order to promote
greater trade relations between the
Americas and the return to better times
that this should bring about.
For a whole week this conference was
in session, earnestly trying to devise the
best means of accomplishing that pur-
an excess of oratory may be said to
have been one of the main obstacles in
arriving at more practical results.
In spite Of this deluge Of oratorical
competition - which Is unavoidable
wherever more than two Latin Ameri-
cans gather-the conference managed
to pass upon a number OF resolutions
and recommendations. A few Of these
alone are sufficiently important to call
the conference success.
Personal Contacts Beneficial.
Before going into a brief outline Of
the more outstanding conclusions Of
the conference. 1t might be proper to
repeat here what said at the begin
ming of this and all previous CONT
mental Congresses which have been
gathering in the last few years. The
major benefit Of these inter American
meetings is in the personal contacts-in
the frank. unofficial talks outside the
session hours. In the friendly exchange
of views between the representatives Of
countries of diverse and often antago-
niStic interests
This, it seems to me. is still the one
ndisputable benefit which makes these
conferences really worth while.
From all indications, the tariff prob
lem was expected to be the major topic
Of discussion at the conference. The
passage Of highly protective tariffs by
the United States Congress had pro-
voked widespread criticism in Latin
America, where exports to this country
constitute the largest percentage of
the main source Of revenue for govern
ments.
This opposition to the American tariff
had been made more acute by the eco
nomic depression, which Latin America
has probably felt more than any other
region Of the world. From this point
Of view this seemed to be most timely
moment to discuss the possibilities of
a reduction in tariffs. Of tremendous
significance for certain of the Latin
American nations. Thus it was indi-
Gated by the statements prior to the
conference, made by the delegates of
Cuba and Mexico, two of the most in
terested countries in the matter.
But the question had other angles.
All the countries south of the Rio
Grande have heavy financial obligations
pending with Uncle Sam. Some of them
have lately been unable to fulfill them
and nearly all of them are experiencing
difficulty in doing it. Their whole
affected by IIe ex-
traordinary decrease in prices, their
finances upset, numberless economic
problems endangering their own sta
bility, the Latin-American governments
were certainly not in a position to en-
gage now in a tariff controversy with
the United States, where their only hope
Of recovery and assistance lies. They
just could not afford to do it.
Cause Of Cuban Stand.
This is. undoubtedly, why the Cuban
delegation did not find much support
when it proposed a two-year truce In
tariffs and adoption Of a more or less
radical declaration OF principles con-
demning the policy Of protectionistic
customs duties. Besides, 1t is we'll to
remember that several Of the Latin
American countries have been recently
resorting to high tariffs as a means
of helping out their own financial diff
culties.
Instead Of the Cuban proposal. the
conference passed a resolution in which
it submits for the consideration of the
American Government the hope OF the
delegates that the American republics
should grant each other. as soon as con-
ditions of their domestic economy may
permit, the greatest tariff advantages
and the reduction of domestic taxes on
ton. In due course the 70 were re-