Evening star., 1933-12-10
BIZ GAsroN NERvAL.

UNFORTUNATELY, the Seventh
PAn-Amertcan Conference is In
progress ct Montevideo at q
~ time when domestic problems
are 30 many and 20 serious In
the United States that they are bound
to handicap both the practical out
come Of the conference and the extent
Of popular interest aroused by it.
AS was unmistakably intimated In o
White House communique prior to the
departure Of the United States delega-
ton, economic conditions throughout
the world are 80 uncertain at this time
that It would seem useless to arrive at
financial or commercial arrangements
with any character Of permanency. AL
that can be effected at Mcntevideo Is an
agreement on general principles of eco
nomic cooperation and mutual assist
ance among the American republics
Specific measures to cure some Of the
anomalies Of present-day tnter-Amer-
lean trade must be postponed, as the
White House indicated, until conditions
have become more settled at home and
abroad.
OF course, this being the case, the
Montevideo conference might as wen.
from the economic point Of view, not
have been held at all. Declarations OF
ternational economic cooperation have
already been made in the other six
gatherings which have preceded this
one. But they are still piling up dust in
the archives of foreign ofices through
out the continent.
Held Great Hopes.
II, at the beginning of the present
administration, there was reawakening
Of optimism In Latin America and the
Southern governments held great hopes
for the Montevideo conference, It was,
precisely, because they saw In the prom
ise Of . good neighbor's policy" and
In the avowed intentions Of high Wash
tngton oMcials to promote inter Amer
ican trade, the possibility Of q new
deal" In the economic relations of the
United States with the rest Of the
American republics. They thought that
the Seventh Pan-American Conference
at last-would leave behind some
thing else than beautifully phrased but
meaningless recommendations never to
be used.
The Latin Americans were supported
in their belief that this was going to be
q different kind of pan-American con-
ference, not only by the well-known
political and social ideas of the men
now entrusted with the conduct of the
foreign relations of the United States.
but also by their equally broad and
liberal views on economic problems.
President Roosevelt, speaking on Pan
American day, had stated: 1T is of
vital importance to every nation of this
continent that the American govern
ments, individually, take without further
delay, such action as may be possible
to abolish all unnecessary and artificial
barriers and restrictions which now
hamper the healthy flow of trade be-
tween the peoples of the American re-
publics." Not since the days of Blaine
had Latin Americans heard similar
language.
Hull Had Ideas.
The appointment of Cordell Hull as
Secretary Of State was another reassur-
ance of new deal'' in economic pan
Americanism. Veteran congressional
champion of low tariffs and lifelong
student of International economics, Mr..
Hull was known to have very definite
ideas on the subject. During his first
appearance before the governing board
OF the Pan American Union at Wash
tngton Secretary Hull restated such
views with unusual emphasis and can
dor, disregarding the carefully drafted
and non -commital, platitudinous state
ment which had been prepared for him
by the officers of the Union.
Later, when the World Economic Con-
ference failed at London, the admins
tration openly advocated an increase in
1nter-American trade and announced
It's determination to turn definitely
toward the Latin American markets to
onset the losses in its transatlantic
commerce. Preliminary negotiations for
the working out of bilateral agreements
with Argentina, Brazil and Colombia
were announced.
But since the unauspicious end of
the London Conference many things
have happened in this country. So
many things, In fact, that, ON the eve
OF the American delegation,s sailing for
Montevideo the White HOUSE wern.d