Evening star., 1936-11-26


but which is nevertheless something
remote and intangible. He is often
surprised to learn that the cultivation
of friendship between the United
States and the countries to the south
Of us is something to which earnest
attention has been given by our Gov
eminent day in and day out for gen.
erations and with Indifferent success.
Clash of Temperaments.
2 The clash between the Latin and the
Anglo-Saxon temperaments is be-
lieved to have been responsible for
many of the differences that have
arisen between the Spanish countries
and the United States, but this alone
does not explain the steady growth of
anti-Americanism which began in the
latter part of the nineteenth century
and continued with varying degrees OF
intensity until recent years.
Again and again, American states
men, like Elihu Root, for example,
have captured the imagination of Pan
American countries but it has re-
mained for Secretary Hull to achieve
an eminence not attained by any one
else. On the foundations built by
Secretary Hull, with the able assistance
of Sumner Welles, Assistant Secretary
of State, who has given the best years
of his life to Latin American diplo-
macy, now has come the crownlng
event of ala visit by the President
toI tn p i.
can conference held in Argentina.
There is no possibility of overesti-
mating the meaning of this event in
Pan-American evolution.
For years anti-Americanism has
been attributed to the alleged i'm
perialistic tedencies OF the United
Stats. First this was associated with
the virtual seizure from Colombia OF
q strip of land known as Panama,
which finally was adjusted by spe-
ciai treaty and payment by the United
States of an indemnity. Then there
was the period of dollar diplomacy
under Secretary of State Knox. There
was also the era of suspicion aris-
ing out Of our landing of Marines in
Central American countries and our
occupation Of Vera Cruz in connec-
ton with the Mexican affront to the
Gag at Tampico in 1914.
Distrust Engendered.
In other words, both under Repub-
Hcan and Democratic administra-
lions, the provocations to anti-Ameri-
can outbursts were sufficiently nu-
merous to keep relations from being
cordial except on the surface. The
fact that the United States main
tanned a string on Cuba through the
Platt amendment and held the Phil
ippines on an apparently indefinite
tenure combined to make the Latin
American countries distrustful.
Even the fine expressions of disin-
terested purpose uttered by President
Wilson in his famous speech at Mo-
bile, Ala, in 1918, failed in the long
run to erase the bitterness that pre-
vailed in the southern countries.
European nations in pre-war days
we're quick to take advantage of the
situation for their own interests.
They kept arguing for closer trade
relationships between Latin America
and Europe as sort of leverage
against American Imperialism. Like
wise the constant ENHANCEMENT of
the United States in the affairs Of
Mexico afforded occasion for all sorts
of anti-American demonstrations in
other Latin countries sympathetic
with the plight Of their sister re-
public.
Altruism Substituted.
Now the administration of Presi-
dent Franklin Roosevelt has brought
q change. This is far more familiar
to the people Of South America than
to the United States. To Latin
America Mr.. Roosevelt has brought
new concept of the altruism and
idealism of the people of the United
States. He has articulated, with a
sincerity that has carried genuine