Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29


NV ings, mending past errors
and endeavoring to regain
the good will of Latin Amer
lea, Congress insists on 1mpairlng the
final success of such efforts with eco
nomic weapons which might result far
more injuriously than at first realized.
In fact, all the gains made In the
political field through the State Depart
ment's new Latin American policy ap-
pear today at stake. The resentment
and the probable retaliations which the
latest tariff boosts approved by Con-
gress are certain to provoke in Latin
America may finally prove stronger
than the political understanding labo-
riously built up during the last four
years.
In an era Of materialism and flnan-
cial laws economic realities may easily
Guido the work of diplomats and well
intentioned statesmen. particularly so
in a period of worldwide depression.
when economic problems assume a vital
meaning.
Simultaneously with a favorable dis
cussion in Congress of new tariffs on
oil and copper and an increase In the
sugar duties, a wave Of protest spreads
through the Southern continent. And
even government officials OF Latin
American countries point to the harm
full effects which the new tariffs may
have upon inter-American relations,
both commercially and politically
Oil Levy Attacked.
A cable dispatch reports that the pro-
posed oil tariff has caused considerable
criticism in Mexico, Venezuela, Colom-
bia, Ecuador and Peru, where it will
have greater consequences. The copper
tariff is being severely resented by
Chileans and Peruvians, whose exports
to the United States in that mineral
are quite important.
According to speakers in the Peruvian
Congress, the new duties amount to an
embargo. Some of the critics go as far
as declaring that if made into law they
would ruin Peru and leave the country
the yery prey of the most violent and
deplorable crisis"
Peruvian newspapers comment Bit
terly on the subject. One OF them con-
tends that preachers Of American con-
fraternity in the United States will have
wasted time and money If this economic
warfare goes on. And at cnce suggests
that the British and japanese offer
pleasing prospectives. -,
Let us emancipate Latin America
that paper says, from the economic
influence of the United States, and let
Peru in the midst of her misfortune be
the first to strike
Another dispatch announces that a
motion has actually been introduced IN
the Peruvian Chamber of Deputies ask
ing the government of Lima to call
South American conference for the pur-
pose of counteracting the high tariffs
OF the United States.
Chilean newspapers indicate that the
only thing to do now is to set up a
sort of economic boycott OF manufac-
tured goods made in U. S. A. and divert
Latin Americas trade to Europe and
Asia"
Already Started in Cuba.
Such a campaign has already started
in Cuba, where talk of an increased
sugar tariff has caused great concern.
FL Mercurio. newspaper, of which
Emilio Obregcn. is president, carries
each day on its front page warning
to the public to refrain from purchasing
anything from the United States.
Thus another chapter in the tariff
war which is spreading economic ma
ticnalism throughout the world seems
to have been started. And only few
months ago leaders of public opinion
on both sides of the Rio Grande were
rejoicing at the possibility that high
protective tariffs would be lowered as a
consequence Of the depression.
Ore of the first things the Demo-
cratic House of Representatives did
when il convened for the present ses-
sion was to pess bill suggesting pro-
gram of reciprocity tariff agreements
with foreign governments.
The bill called upon the President to
do two things:
First-Initiate a movement for an
international economic conference, with
q view to:
,a) Lowering excessive tariff duties
and eliminating discriminatory and I'M
fair trade practices and other economic
barriers affecting international trade.
fb) Preventing retaliatory tariff
measures and economic walls.
'c) Promoting fair. equal End friendly
trade and commercial relations be-
tween nations; ana,
SeconG-Negotiatc with foreign gov
ernments reciprocal trade agreements
under a policy of mutual tariff con-
cessionS
This measure was enthusiastically
hailed here and abroad as marking the
end of an era of economic antagonism
and misunderstanding. which was, to
a large extent, responsible for the in
tensity and length OF the world depreS-
sion
Whatever the causes which origi-
mated the crisis, leading economic ex-
perts everywhere agreed-and undoubt-
eddy still agree-upon the fact that high
protective tariffs and ether restrictions
to trade were one of the major elements
in the situation
There was a widespread recognition
of the necessity of bringing down world
tariff walls before the normal level of
international trade could be restored.