Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
in LATIN AMERICA
By CASTON NERVAL.

is already giving its first signs of life
there. And it promises to have q long
and laundering existence.
The first public appearance of dear
old General Disarmament on the Latin
American scene came recently during
one Of the early sessions of the hero
American Congress of Students, meeting
in Mexico City. There, in the beautiful
and legendary metropolis which has in
herited the traditions of one of the
most warlike peoples in history and has,
until recently, been disturbed by the
barking of cannon in endless civil strug-
giles, the Bolivian delegates to the Stu
dents Congress submitted resolution
calling for reduction of existing arma-
ments and war budgets by the govern
mentS OF all Latin American Republics.
Two chief arguments were invoked
by the proponents, and two very good
ones, at that. One, that the race for
ornaments which has been growing, at
an alarming rate, on the other side of
the Atlantic since the very day follow
ing Versailles, is being re-enacted by
certain governments in the Western
Hemisphere with an eagerneSs that
does not exactly agree with promises of
continental peace and good will an
nounced repeatedly in the most cordial
phraseology of diplomatic gallantry.
And second, that this belligerent be-
havior Is forcing those governments to
consume most Of their national income
in disproportionate war budgets which
seem unreasonable, not to say unjust
the more so, If only q minimum per-
centage of that income is devoted to
public education and the building Of
schools.
To call a halt to such a dangerous
race, and thus permit money appropria-
hIlxy En-
be employed for educational purposes,
the Bolivian delegation to the Mexico
City Congress proposed that resolu-
ton be passed inviting the Latin
American governments to join in the
universal move for disarmament and
to initiate negotiations for some sort of
agreement among themselves.
Really, one would think that the
Western Hemisphere, without the peril
Gus element of traditional hatreds in
herited from centuries back; without
the sharp differences of rival races and
nationalities; without the material
complications of the urge for land. ex-
cess of population or supremacy of
trade, which darken the horizon of Eu-
rope, should be the most fertile ground
for the seeds of disarmament.
Unfortunately. this Is not so. The
psychology of the masses in the New
World is still strongly pervaded by the
influence of European prejudices, and
this will make it very difficult task,
indeed, to tie the hands of Mars on this
side of the ocean. The Latin Ameri-
cans, too, like Monsieur BRAND, seem
to be uncertain as to which comes first,
security or disarmament.
So uncertain are they. in fact, that
the attempt of the Bolivian students in
Mexico City reminds one of Don Quix-
ote attacking the windmill.
MARKET HUNTERS.
The first effects of his royal high
ness the Prince of Wakes trip to South
America as a Commissioner EXtraordi-
nary of Empire Trade" are already
being shown by the eagerness with
which other world powers interested in
Latin American trade are getting ready
to increase their share in the Southern
markets.
An appropriation Of more than half
million dollars was recently asked OF
Congress by the Department of Com
merce in order to strengthen CONNER
cial interchange between the United
States and the Latin American repuh-
lies during the current year.
According to the plans OF the Com
merce Department, new commercial
attache was be appointed for Buenos
Aires, the largest South American cap
ital, while another trade commissioner
will be sent to Mexico City and trade
agencies expanded in Montevideo and
Caracas. The appointment Of assistant
commercial attaches in Santiago and
Bogota is also being considered.
Thus q more complete and more
accurate contact with conditions pre-
vailing in the most important Latin
American capitals is pointed to as the
Interamerican trade, which, according
to reliable experts, are now menaced by
the continuous and active efforts CT
British interests to regain their lost
commercial leadership in the New
World.
Germany, which previous to the
World War, was second only to Great
Britain in the control of the Latin
American markets. is also striving for
the reconquest of her interests in the
Western Hemisphere. Her force of
commercial representatives and trade
agents in the various Latin American
countries has lately been increased, and
the most efficient means of advertising
are being used to regain for German
products the outstanding prestige and
they enjoyed in that part of
the world before the war.
Great Britain and Germany seem to
be well aware Of the tremendous COM
mercial value Of Latin America. Uncle
Sam cannot afford TO overlook such
fact.
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