Evening star., 1936-04-12
PAN-AMERICAN GOOD WILL
MARKS YEAR OF PROGRESS
Settlement Of Many Disputes in Flo.
quent Contrast to Conditions i'm
EurOpe-ROOsevelt's Contribution.

ton that 1t Is intended to substituts
regime OF law and friendly co..
operation for the imposition based on
force which prevailed heretofore has
already insured the beginning of a
new and more fortunate chapter in
the relations Of the United States with
Panama. This, in turn. has neces-
sarily added to the growing good will
and confidence felt by Latin Amer
leans toward the changed policies OF
the United States.
Presidents Pronouncement.
In this same direction, that is in
gaining Latin American good will,
President Roosevelt made another i'm
portant contribution by his official re-
pudiation of dollar diplomacy" He
declared last September tnat since
March 4, 1888, dollar diplomacy is not
recognized by the American Govern.
ment." The presidential statement
was given out in connection with the
annulment of huge Ethiopian con.
cesSion to United States interests on
the eve of the Italian invasion. The
manner in which the annulment was
brought about by the State Depart
ment was in itself demonstration of
the sincerity of the Presidents pro-
nouncement. Secretary Hull added
emphatically that the present admin
istration could not Oversee business
investments Of Americans abroad" or
follow every American wherever he
went through the world seeking busi-
ness interests" The contrast between
this position and the one so consist
ently'followed by previous administra-
tions. particularly with regard to Latin
America, was self-evident. It was just
because the United States hld insisted
on overseeing and supporting the busi-
ness interests of its citizens in some
Of the Caribbean republics that most
of the hegemonic actions ana armed
interventions of this country in Latin
America had taken place.
Another bid for Latin American
friendship may be found in the Senate
amendment to the neutrality bill, ex-
empting nations of the Western Hemi-
sphere from an arms embargo in case
they are attacked by non-American
power.
In a more pragmatic order of things,
the Pan-American year now coming
to an end has also seen progress. 1t
has seen a continuation of Secretary
Hulls reciprocal trade program, agree
ments to this effect having been
signed, up to now, with six Latin
Ameican republics, and being under
negotiation with several others. 1t
has also seen the revival of inter-
American trade from an alarmingly
low level, which, in the most critical
period OF the depression, had cut total
yearly figures to where they were more
than three decades ago.
Fittingly rounding the record of a
year of increasingly harmony and un-
derstandins among the nations of the
Western Hemisphere, must be listed
President Roosevelt's message to the
heads of the Latin American republics
suggesting the meeting of a Pam
American peace conference, to trans
late the current feeling Of good will
into some concrete guarantees for its
preservation in the future.
Although it is still too early to
delve into the probable results Of the
projected conference, the preparations
for continued peace in the New World
are in eloquent contrast with the
preparations for war in the other
continents Of the earth.
(Copyright, 1861