Evening star., 1932-07-03

- have fostered more friendly re-
lations with cur Latin American
4 neighbors by gradual with
drawal Of our Marines from
both Haiti and Nicaragua and by as
sisting the Mexican government in
putting down a wholly military revolu-
tion by the imposition Of an embargo
on arms to the rebel forces"
Thus reads the platform of the Re
publican party in its section devoted
to prsising the achievements of the
present administration in the field OF
foreign affairs And that is all that
the platform says in connection with
the Latin American policy of the last
four years. But it is not all that 1t
could have said.
Those who have been following the
progress of inter-American relations
and the effects Of the changes which
the State Department has lately intro
duced in its policies toward the coun-
tries south of the Rio Grande were
surprised to see such an incomplete ac-
count of the Latin American record Of
the Government in the Republican
platform.
A More Liberal Policy.
The Republican delegates who
told much more about the conduct cb-
served toward the Southern republics
in the past four years. They could have
been told of the more liberal and en-
lightened attitude of the State Depart
ment since President-elect Hoover re-
turned from his South American good
will tour and since Col. StimSon, former
peace envoy to Nicaragua, was made
Secretary of State.
They could have beea told Of the va
rious radical departures from the old
and unpopular methods Of previous ad-
ministrations. They could have been
told of the existence of a new Latin
American policy much more in agree
ment with the principles Of self-gov-
ernment and equality of states which
American statesmen have been preach
ing for years. They could have been
told, finally, of the widespread applause
with which this new policy has been
hailed throughout Latin America and
the amount of goodwill it has secured
for Uncle Sam In a continent where
past errors and misunderstanding had
created suspicion and resentment
against him.
OF course, in a period of economic
depression at home, when so many and
such vital problems of domestic nature
confront the leaders of political parties
in the United States, it may appear
justifable to relegate international af-
fairs to second place and only refer
to them in passing in most political
programs. But in the case Of the Re-
publican party platforms, when Re-
! publican leaders are precisely trying to
show the merits of the Republican ad-
ministration in power, it seems odd. to
1a hof ry,for,IfI
terial for praise should have been over
| looked.
have had occasion, before. to refer
| to those changes in the attitude of the
State Department toward the Latin
American countries which have gained
! so many friends for the United States
| in the neighboring republics. I shall
| briefly mention them once more. so that
| the phrase I'VE have fostered more
| friendly relations with our Latin Ameri-
can neighbors," included in the Re-
publican platform, may be more easily
understood.
Other Actions Responsible.
The gradual and slow withdrawal of
| Marines from Haiti and Nicaragua and
! the help given the Mexican government
( to put down a military revolution-the
/ only two points mentioned in the plat
! foTm-would not have sufficed, by
| themselves. to cause more friendly rela-
tons between this country and the
Latin American states.
1t is through a series of other ac-
tionS of the present administration,
carelessly neglected by the authors of
the Republican platform, that the good
will of the Latin Americans toward the
United States has been increased under
the Hoover-S Simpson period.
The first of such steps was taken by
President Hoover even before he took
| Office. His goodwill tour of South
, America as President-elect of the
I United States was called "a stepping
stone to a new era of inter- American
friendship" His speeches in the va
rious Southern capitals were enthusi-
aStically received, both because they
showed his personal interest in the de-
velopment of closer economic relations
and becs use he promised in them a
greater respect for the sovereignty of
the Latin republics.
Soon after his Inauguration, President
Hoover announced that in view Of the
growing Importance of the Latin
American countries, greater zeal
would be observed in the appointment
of diplomatic representatives to those
governments. In the last four years
some of the most prominent men in
and outside of the diplomatic service of
the United States have represented this
country in Latin America.
other material achievements in Pan
AmericaniSm during the Hoover ad-
ministration have been: The develop
ment of inter-American aerial COM
munications, the policy of tolerance of
Wall Street with respect to the debt
defaults imposed by the crisis, the
strengthening of commercial ties and
the growing sense of cooperation in
economic matters. also resulting from
the crisis: the assistance given by the
United States in the solution of some
Latin American boundary questions,
the humanitarian help rendered by the
United States in cases of national
emergencies, like the Nicaraguan earth
quake OF last year; the institution of
Pan-American day, the holding in
Washington of various Continental