Evening star., 1934-08-05
BY GAsToN NERvAL.

UhHAVN
TN HIS vacation cruise. the Presi-
dent Of the United States has
visited three Latin American re-
i publies-Haiu. Colombia and PAN
anna. The chief executives of
Panama and Haiti had previously
visited President Roosevelt at WASH
ington. and so had the President-elect
Of Colombia.
Whether this fact Influenced Presi-
dent Roosevelt In including them in
his itinerary, or whether only consid-
erations OF time and convenience en-
tered into his decision. the truth Is
that the selection OF Haiti. Colombia
and Panama as stops for the presiden-
tial cruise was a happy choice. OF
all the Latin American countries in
or near the route OF the cruise. those
three offered the President Of the
United States the best opportunities
for study and for the promotion OF
international understanding. Excep-
tion is made. Of course. of Cuba, the
island republic which obvious political
reasons advised to pass by.
Haiti and Panama are looking for
ward to the new deal" promised by
the good neighbor" policy. They have
grievances against the government OF
the United States for the actions which
have hindered their sovereignty, both
internal and external To these griev-
ances, which for many years have
sown resentment and suspicion in the
relations Of the United States not only
with the two countries, but with the
rest OF Latin America, the Roosevelt
administration has now promised Il
give an ear; 1t has, In fact, started tc
| amend the errors of the past, although
perhaps too slowly.
Know Imperialism.
What Haiti and Panama are to q
better understanding Of the problems
of the present. Colombia, and for thai
matter Haiti. also, is to better under.
| standing of the problems of the past
| Colombians and Haitians can tell any
visitor from the United States just a.
much or more than the citizens o
any other Latin republic as to thu
| origins of the Yankee imperialism
charge, which to this day is heard OF
the other side of the Rio Grande.
It is unfortunate, however, tina
President Roosevelt spent only a few
hours In each of the three Southern
countries and that in those few hour,
he was subjected to the routine o
pompous official ceremonies and dip
lomatic greetings.
| Newspaper reports Of the presiden
tial voyage have abounded in detail
| of the cordial manner in which thI
Chief Executive of the United State
was welcomed at Cap Haitien, Carta
gena and Panama City. Such roya
welcome was undoubtedly sincere a
far as the governments rendering i
| were concerned, but 1t would be child
ish to suppose that the mere presence
OF the distinguished visitor hat
changed overnight ideas, beliefs ant
sentiments entertained by the peopl
of those countries during several de
cades. Diplomatic courtesy pre-
vented the expression Of those sen
timents while the guest was there, bu
it is safe to say that President Roose
welt would have heard somewhat diff
ferent things II he had been allowet
to talk privately with some Of the rea
leaders of public opinion.
1t Is to be regretted that tradition
and precedents keep ofiicial visit
strictly official. This is particular,
true Of Latin America, where so fev
governments are truly representative
of the people. If the visiting head o
a foreign government or the so-callet
ambassadors OF good will wished II
get more complete and more faith
| full picture of the true sentiments o.
a Latin American people toward theil
country than they get from oficia
utterances, they would have to seel
their information a little beyond pro-