Evening star., 1933-11-10
A Limited Conference.

1t will disappotnt not only Latir,
America, but wide sections Of public
opinion in the United States as well, to
learn that President Roosevelt has
found 1t necessary TO place strict lin
itations upon the subjects this country
is prepared to consider at the Pan
American Conference in Uruguay.
Economic questions, the White House
announces. are to be utterly taboo
Because Of unsettled conditions such
as European commercial quota restric-
tions." the United States finds 1t de-
sirable ito forego immediate discussions
of such matters as currency stabiliza-
ton, uniform import prohibitions. per-
manent customs duties and the like"
Thus the United States embargoes at
Montevideo the same issues 1t banned
at London last Summer, resulting in
futility and failure for that attempt at
international recovery and reconstruc-
ton.
Instead Of tariffs and currency, Pres
1dent Roosevelt proposes that the Pan
American Conference confine itself to
consideration Of transportation facili-
ties. To that end, he will ask Con-
gress to appropriate s500O0O for "a
proper scientific survey" of the pro-
posed 5,750-mile route for Pam
American highway from the Texas bor-
der to Santiago, Chile. when the tenn
porary conditions necessitating emer-
gency policies have passed" Mr.. Roose-
welt pledges the United States readi-
ness to take up economic questions
which it is not feasible to tackle at
this time.
Secretary Hull and his fellow dele
gates to the Montevideo conference will
leave for South America tomorrow. Be-
fore the Secretary. Of State returns to
Washington he Is to make courtesy calls
in countries on both coasts of South
America and elsewhere in Latin Amer
lea. Meantime, even with the curtailed
agenda, Mr.. Roosevelt voices the hope
that the United States may contribute
to the conference some practical ex-
preston Of the Presidents good-neigh-
Dor policy"
Whether our friends to the south will
look upon the project to promote "the
immediate acceleration of improvements
in transport by air, highway, water and
rail" as satisfactory substitute for
more favorable trade and financial rela-
tions remains to be seen. Better facil-
tiles for transport Of passengers and
goods are undeniable essentials for ex-
panded economic intercourse between
North and South America and inter-
vening Central America. But the ques-
ton naturally arises as to what good
improved transit facilities will be II
accompanying them there are no provi-
Sions for improvement In trade.
That issue becomes purely academic
in light of the decision to which the
Washington Government has now come.
The United States interest In bigger
and better business with the other
Americas Is, Of course, very genuine, but
until the world has returned to q more
even economic keel there Will be no in
clination on our part to take down the
tariff and monetary barriers that pre-
vent wider trade relations.
To Secretary Hull. with his avowed
antagonism to economic nationaliSm, /"
the limited mission intrusted to him
at Montevideo no doubt brings chagrin.
But the administration policy will not
detract from the personal attributes Of
statesmanlike sincerity and Cancellation
which characterize the present head of
the State Department. II our mission
at Montevideo becomes mainly one Of
good will,' Judge Hull is admirably
suited to execute it. He Is to be sup
ported by an able delegation, which
includes woman-Miss Breckenridge
Of Kentucky-thus perpetuating a pol
icy 1naugurated by President Hoover
when he sent DR.. Mary E. Woolley to
Geneva in 1882.