Evening star., 1933-12-21
At Montevideo.

Concrete results have not been nu-
merous or spectacular at the Pan
American Conference in Montevideo,
but the current week has been marked
by some significant developments In
which the activity and influence OF the
United States have been effectively evi-
dent.
DISPATCHES from Uruguay assign
principal credit to Secretary Hull 1or
the ten-day armistice, which Is designed
to end the long and sanguinary war IN
the Gran Chaco between Paraguay ana
Bolivia. Behind the scenes Secretary
Hull worked unremittingly with con-
ference leaders to the end that the
Montevideo sessions should not adjourn
until the Chaco hostilities were ter
minated. I'VE shall be discredited be-
fore the eyes of the world" Judge Hull
persistently and successfully argued. III
we go home without peace between Par
aguay and Bolivia"
OF no less significance than the con-
clusion of Latin Americas most ter
rible war is the doctrine of non-inter-
yention proclaimed by Secretary Hull
in the name of the United States. He
gave the conference the categorical
pledge that mo government need fear
intervention upon the part OF the
United States under the Roosevelt ad-
ministration." The pronouncement en-
sued in the course of a general discus
sion of the rights and duties of states
The intervention question was precipi-
tated by some fiery eXhortatlonS from
delegates of Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti.
But these were presently drowned out
by the chorus of hearty approval which
followed the American Secretary OF
States declaration. Every observing
person." he said, must thoroughly un-
derstand that the United States Govern
ment is opposed as much as any other
TO interference with the freedom, SOW
ereignty or other internal affairs or
processes of the governments of other
nations" Secretary Hull pointed out
that his afirmations only accorded with
the inaugural and subsequent state
~nents of good neighbor'' policy by
President Roosevelt, but reiterated in
the formal and official Pan-American
atmosphere of Montevideo, these as
surances take on a new and augmented
importance.
A notable advance in the eStab-
lishment of the legal and political
rights of women has been effected by
the adoption of a equal nationality"
treaty to which the signature of the
United States was announced yesterday
both at Montevideo and Washington
1t is most appropriate that this coun-
than any other the principle Of equal
rights for women, should thus associ-
ate itself with the declaration mat
there shall be no distinctions based
on sex in the law and practice of the
subscribers to this instrument.
Altogether, as the conference ap-
proaches the end of its proceedings,
there seems full reason to assume that
it has solidifled Pan-American relations
afresh, and, as far as the United States
is concerned, banished much of the old
latent suspicion that the Colossus of
the North" harbors ulterior purposes to-
ward its Latin neighbors. The latter
are doubtless disappointed that Mon
tevideo has not proved to be the scene
of greater advance in the direction of
American tariff and trade ar
rangements, with the United States
taking the lead as grantor of conces-
sions, but the Colombian American re-
ciprocity treaty, concluded while the
conference was in session, is tangible
earnest Of Washington's willingness to
enter into bi-lateral commercial ar
rangements with the sister Americas.
A start having been made in that direc-
ton, regular progress with other coun-
tries is legitimately to be expected.
All in all, Montevideo promises to be-
come the hallmark Of a new era OF
political peace and economic welfare
In the western hemisphere.
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