Evening star., 1933-05-07
ROOSEVELT DECLARATION
CRATIFIES LATIN NATIONS
Pronouncement for "a Healthy Flow
of Trade in Western Hemisphere
Reassures Republics.

Japanese offer pleasing prospects"
Argentina began negotiations for q
trade agreement with Great Britain on
a preferential basis. And. finally. the
project for South American customs
union has been revived by Chilean and
Argentine economists with the avowed
and Official support Of the government
of Santiago
The second reason which stressed the
urgency Of giving new impetus to inter-
American trade is that, partly due to
and partly TO the world depression,
totals involved in export and import
trade between the United States and
the Latin American countries receded
last year to where they were more than
20 years ago. While In 1929 Uncle
Sans commercial interchange with the
southern nations amounted to nearly
two billions of dollars, in 1882 it shrunk
to sum far below the average given
for the period Immediately preceding
the World War.
Exports Recede by Half.
In 1918. the year generally considered
the starting point in the tremendous
development Of inter American trade
which became one Of the characteristics
Of the postwar period, United States
exports to, and imports from, Latin
America amounted to little over eight
hundred million dollars Last year they
had dropped to about one-half the 1918
figures.
Exports to South America, alone.
which In 1929 had passed the half
billion mark, declined in 1880 to
s337 sos, 900; in 1891 to s158, So, 900 and
in 1882 to 1871 900. And so with the
totals Of every individual item. Whether
it Is total exports. total imports, goods
sold TO particular country, or raw ma
terials bought from another the record
shows the same catastrophe decline.
President Roosevelt knew Of this un-
precedented decline in inter-America
trade. And he knew of the part played
IN 1t by the high protective tariff wall
OF the United States. It was most like
ly prompted by these two reasons, and
his personal conviction that economic
cooperation is one of the safest paths
to political understanding. that he con-
cluded his Pan-American day address
advocating the abolition of ali unneces-
sary and artificial barriers and restric-
tons which now hamper the healthy
now OF trade between the peoples Of the
American republics"
Not since the days of Secretary Of
State Blaine, founder of the present
Pan-American movement, had Latin
Americans heard such a significant pro-
nouncement in favor Of inter-American
trade from a high spokesman for the
washington Government. Yet, it was
only logical that the man who had
pledged his administration to the pol
icy OF the good neighbor" in its political
relations with the other American re-
publlcs should go on record as opposing
'artiflcial barriers and restrictions to
the healthy flow of trade" among them.
Ihls is only the application of the
policy Of the good neighbor" to mat
ters economic and commercial.
Declaration Called Sincere.
And that President Roosevelt was
sincere in his declaration and that he
intends to carry it out in practice, may
De deduced, not only from the fact
that in his domestic policies he has so
far demonstrated abundantly his ca
pacity for action, but also from certain
Steps which he has already taken in
that direction
One OF such steps was the appoint
| ment OF Cordell Hull, veteran con-
gressional champion of low tariffs and
nre-!ong student Of international eco
nomics, as Secretary of State The
views OF Secretary Hull on the subject
are too well known to need repetition
here. Only a few weeks ago, during
his first appearance before the govern
ing board Of the Pan-American Union,
Secretary Hull restated them with un-
usual emphasis and candor.
Another step is the congressional
authorization asked by President Roose-
welt to conclude reciprocal trade agree
ments with foreign countries, among
which some of the Latin American ma
tlonS will no doubt figure prominently.
Finally. a further confirmation of
the sincerity with which the President
champions inter-American trade may
be found in the invitations which he
has just sent to the governments across
the Rio Grande to participate in the
Washington discussions preliminary to
the World Economic Conference.
These steps, in accord with the spirit
Of the Democratic platform, on which
he was elected, are evidence of the
fact that President Roosevelt does not
promise in vain. He is a man, as the
poet said, who promises much but sup
plements his promises with deeds"
And that Is the best assurance that
the new deal" in Pan-American re-
lations will not be confined solely to
the realm Of political principles and
doctrines, important as these are
fCopyright 1881