Evening star., 1934-01-09
COP. WOMEN HEAR
TALK ON AMERICAS
Former Ambassador to Chile
Explains Economic and
Political Contrasts.
BY GRACE HENDRICK EUsTIs.

In talk before the League OF Repub-
lican Women of the District OF Column
bia, at the Mayf1ower Hotel, William
Smith Culbertson of Emporla. kanS.,
former Ambassador to Chile, discussed
and explained the economic and po!ltl-
cal contrasts between Latin America
and the United States.
Mr.. Culbertson, who not only served
on the Tariff Commission under Demo-
cratic and Republican Presidents, but
worked on the Federal Trade Commits
sion and has been Minister to Rumania,
stressed the fact that these contrasts
have been overstated in this country
and in Europe.
These contrasts have unfortunately
been exaggerated by our own writers
and by our own speakers" he said. he
went on to tell how in every South
American country there is a group OF
people who style themselves "ntellec-
tuals" and who pride themselves on an
allegiance with Europe and dlstaSte
for the United States. However, nc
claimed they do not represent the oulk
of the people.
Presents Unfavorable View.
Also, he said, certain European coun-
tries find it profitable to emphasize con-
trasting characteristics. An example OF
this is the case of the HaVas news
Agency. which was controlling factor
before the World War and was Supsl-
dized by the French government; ne
described how, after the war. ootn the
Associated Press and the United PreSs
became we'll established in South
America and were so successful that
most of the leading local papers sub
scribed to one or the other. Now, ne
SAYS. the Havas agency is coming into
power again, after a lapse into semi
obscurity, and with its French backing
is presenting a continuously unfaVof-
able view of the United States
Taking the Rio Grande as the bound
ary between Latin America and the
United States, Mr.. Culbertson showed
the different ways in which the Two
continents were settled. Whereas, IN
this country, the settlers came over
bringing their families with them, the
pioneers in Latin America came with
out women and intermarried with the
natives Geographically, he said, Latin
America was not conducive to SELL
expansion as was this country The
combination of tropical climates, noun
tains, deserts, stormy regions and the
enormous heights of the Andes, which
split the continent in two, made people
settle in pockets.
Spanish Influence Felt
Also, he explained the Spanish Court
sponsored and developed a divergence
in the people which naturally existed
through physical separation. The basis
of the trouble which now exists lay with
the vagueness of the Spanish maps
and unverified frontiers. But I don't
want to overemphasize the contrasts"
he said. mo such hatreds exist be-
tween these countries as the old,
grounded hatreds that are found in
Europe"
He traced the progress that has been
made in inter-American relations and
said that it began in 1926, when Bolivar
called a conference in Panama, to
which our representatives arrived too
late. He described the seven Pan
American conferences, which started in
1880, when James G. Blaine was Presi-
dent, and then told of the various
achievements in which this country had
participated. During the Hays ad-
ministration he said. territorial dis
pute was settled between the Argentine
and Paraguay. He gave Mr. Kellogg,
when he was Secretary of State. credit
for settling the Tacna-Aric dispute,
and to Chief Justice Hughes he ascribed
the final decision in a fight between
honduras ana Guatemala. All LneSe,
Mr. Culbertson pointed out. were con-
sumated under Republican Presidents.
Defends Monroe Doctrine.
Mr.. Culbertson stoutly defended the
Monroe Doctrine. 1T is a principle
which needs analysis, not revision. and
the confusion has come over its admin
istration." he said.
In concluding Mr. Culbertson said:
"These inter-American problems have
a real interest for US today. Co-opera
ton among the Americas has made a
greater advance politically than that
existing between any other group of
countries"
Mrs. George C. Thorpe, chairman of
the Program Committee, introduced Mr.
Culbertson. and Mrs Frank w. Mondell.
president of the organization. thanked
him warmly. The Chinese room at the
Mayf1ower, where the meeting was held,
was crowded with attentive Republican
ladies. There were two out-of- town
members present, Mrs. Katherine Ken
nedy Brown, Republican National Com
mitteewoman from Dayton, Ohio, and
Mrs. Robert Day, wife of the former
Ohio Supreme Court Judge.