Evening star., 1936-12-01
BuenOs Aires.

Buenos Aires, which means good air,
derives its picturesque name from the fact
that the founders of the South American
metropolis discovered that its site was
perpetually caressed by fresh winds
from the contiguous pampas. Today, in
the Argentine capital, amid the most
salubrious air in Pan-American history,
there assemblies q conference Of the
twenty-one republics of the Western
Hemisphere. They are convening in an
atmosphere altogether conducive to at
tainment of those results in the domain
of peace and inter-American fraternity,
which inspired President Roosevelt to
suggest the assemblage at whose OPEN
ing ceremony he is delivering a keynote
address.
There has been a long succession Of
Pan-American conferences during the
past forty-six years, but none of them
was characterized by that cordiality and
esteem that underlie present relations
between the states of North, Central and
South America In that circumstance
in the vitality altered spirit in which the
Buenos Aires conference swings into
action-lies the outstanding and all
important aspect that distinguishes it
from its predecessors. For that happy
consummation President Roosevelt re-
ceives the lions share of credit. 1t is
primarily his good neighbor" policy that
has converted Latin Americas stereo-
typed conception and mistrust of the
Colossus Of the North into an attitude
Of confidence and respect. Here and
there, no doubt, ancient suspicious of
Yankee imperialism" and dollar diplo-
macy" persists, but nowadays all the
way from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn
there is preponderance of faith in the
intention of the people and Government
of the United States to deal with the
Latin republics on basis of unSelfiSh
friendship. The enthusiastic receptions
showered upon President Roosevelt at
Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires clearly
betoken that Latin America has come
to look upon this country with reciprocal
good will and trust.
Thus, in the mood Of equals dealing
with equals, the American states will
discuss ways and means of making Pan
Americanism an invincible force for CO.
operation on this side of the Atlantic
and the Pacific and for promotion of
peace throughout the world. Knotty
problems like the future of the Monroe
Doctrine, defense, neutrality, trade and
correlated questions fill the Buenos Aires
agenda. Patience, wisdom and tolerance
are essential to their solution. There
are ample indications that there is no
lack of those requisites.
The conference meets amid chaotic
and perilous international conditions. In
the interlocking universe of today, with
rival political ideologies fiercely contest
ing for supremacy across far-flung bor-
ders, it would be rash to dogmatize that
because this hemisphere is momentarily
immune from that strife, it will per-
manently be spared from embodiment in
it. 1t is to set the troubled world beyond
our shores an example of pacific soli-
darity and to take all possible precau-
tions for sterilizing American soil against
the malady of war that the sister
democracies of the West are about to
counsel with one another Because of
their common aims, interests and craving
for peace, there is every reason to expect
that fruitful and epochal results will be
achieved.