Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02
Continued FROM First pase.l

power and resourcefulness. And that
is true not simply Of the economic or
RaIliSAticn Of the country In many re-
spectA. but of the people themselves.
Spain has been hard hit by the world
wide depression, and it Is well for US TO
remember that in her plight we have a
substantial stake. because in recent
wears our sales to that country have
averaged about SIS, 100000 (nlore than
treble the pre-war totaD, and we have,
furthermore, some S73,000,600 Ct direct
American investments there in 'tele-
phone installations. automobile assem-
bling plants, cork factories, etc.
---- Linked In Past.
OF course, from the very beginning
Of its recorded history this continent
has been intimately linked with Spain.
A dozen Spanish explorers mad ira
versed 1t In many directions. penetrat-
ina thousands of miles into its interior,
long before any other Europeans 0f we
except the daring but frtlltless visits CT
the Vikings. The names Of at least
Q dozen Of our States and OF countless
rivers, towns and mountains. from
Florida to California, bear ample wit
ness to the imprint left on our coun-
try and its history by these redountaole
warriors and colonNers.
Nor does their influence remain mere
ly in few geographic titles. Many OF
the laws, especially those concerned
with mining. water rights and land
titles throughout that vast area, refer
again and again to Spanish traditions
Here Is one striking evidence or this
point: One Of the great codes In the
history Of western civilization was the
famous "SietA PartidaS"-"tf1e seven
narts"--compiled by Alfonso the wise,
king Of CASTLE In the thirteenth CEN
ttiry-which In the course of nearly
seven centuries has been widely drawn
upon by jurists everywhere Is a source
OF legal lore. In New Orleans, just a
short time before the Civil War, there
was issued A translation in English OF
those parts of this historical document
which at that time were still in force
In Louisiana and adjoining sections OF
the United States.
Thus we fird the ancient traditions
Of SPANS dim past handed down to the
great Republic of the west; and now
some Of our traditions in turn, It APP
pears, are being studied by the new
Spanish government as it takes its place
as the latest republic among the family
Of nations.
Our participation in the upbuilding
Of the new economic Spain has been,
and by all indications wilk continue 10
be, q substantial one. Her cotton indus
plantations for raw material worth more
than $40, 000,000 Her automotive
transport provided q demand exceeding
$l9,060,000 for American gasoline, au-
tomobile parts, tires, cars and allied
products. Her growing industries. In
spite of the depression, last year TOOK
electrical and industrial machinery
worth nearly 100000.
On the other hand. Spain is valued
source of many essential supplies Tor
our industries, including last year S.
900 900 worth Of cork, nearly an equal
amount OF various minerals ard metals
copper, pyrites. quicksilver, etc.-Arld
about $4,000, 900 worth of skins.
The depression overseas has naturally
hit the best markets for SPANS export
products, many of which are Of the
semi-luxury and luxury type-fruits ana
others food specialties, lace. wines, f1re
steel wares. etc. The sharp falling on
Of tourist traffic this year has also been
O serious blow to her.
Deserve Consideration.
All Of which should be fully under
stood in Judging the trials of the new
government When to political dis
turbances there Is added the back
ground Of economic distress, certainly
the Judgment Of the outer world should
be only Of the friendliest, most restrain
ed type. AS Alfonso himself declared,
every fair opportunity should be given
to those now making such extraordinary
efforts TO test the merit OF their new
plans.
SPANS share In the problems Incl
dent to the depression is largely bound
up In the fact that the bulk Of her re-
sources are In the great field Of raw
materials, both mineral and Agricul-
tufal These are the commodities which
have suffered most from the universal
collapse Of prices and Spain, therefore,
has had an unusual share in the world
burden. No less than Al per cent Of her
total AREA Is in meadow and pasture
land. on which she raises nearly u .0O0,-