Milford chronicle., 1938-12-16
ECONOMIC HTGHLlGHTS
HAPPENINGS THAT AFFECT THE DINNER
PALS. DIVIDEND CHECKS AND Tax
BILLS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL
National and THteyHafiOHaI Problems
IHJePGrabis from Local Wsifd1s

The opening Of the Eighth Inter
national Conference of American
States at Lima. on December 2
marked the latest and perhaps the
most determined effort yet made to
preserve the peace of all the Ameri-
cas-and to establish a system Of d.
plOmatic fortiflcations against what
this government regards as menac-
ing activities of foreign govern
ments which cOVet the trade and
even the land of the Republics to the
South.
Significant indeed was the speech
of Assistant Secretary of State
Berle on November 20, when he said
Of the Americas: I'VE are no longer
two vast islands but a part of an
integrated civilization. Il is a signi-
ficant fact that never has there been
so large an area of peace maintained
for so long a period of time in mod
ern history. We are prepared to de-
fend this pOsition-and to defend IL
on any line which may seem neces-
sary." Today's Latin-American prob
lens, fro mOur point of view, are
much more serious and difficult than
when President Hoover made his
successful good will tour ten years
ago-or even when President Roose-
welt made a similar tour in 1886. For
generations we have been Latin Am
erica's big brother" No other pow
er has been a factor there TO any
fnu awyAr -
many. Italy and Japan are all max
ing bids for Latin American favor
and we must outbid them If the Mon
roe Doctrine is not to become a dead
letter. and much of South Americas
vast markets closed to the products
of our farms and factories.
Il Is an important fact that the
appointed by President
Roosevelt to represent us at the
Conference was as non-pOlitical as
could be asked. II was headed, of
course. by Secretary Hull-passion-
ate advocate of peace and stimulated
trade among nations. It included a
priest who Is an authority on Latin
American affairs, a college profess
Or whose speciality is International
law, executives of the CIO and the
A. F. of L.. a number of State De-
partment experts, and ALI NJ. Lam
ion, who carried the COPS presi-
iential hopes in 1886. Mr.. Landon's
It is believed. indicates |
IN effort of the President. to unite |
he two major parties so far as our |
'oreign policy is concerned. And
here seems to be an excellent |
,hanee OF that succeeding-anti-
New Deal spokesmen and newspa-
lers which are almost 100 per cent I
opposed to this Administrations do
nestle policies usually endorse its
oreign policies.
No one expects any great immed-
ate results to follow this confer
nee. There will be many fiowery
peeches and formal gestures of
ood will, for public consumption.
he real work will be carried on
argely behind the scenes. Vast prob
ems must be discussed. For, as
says, the conference must
deal with more than strictly Amer
,an affairs. War in Spain and China.
Tazi, Fascist and Japanese economic
and political propaganda
4 South and Central America had
to build up an atmosphere
,r this conference which brought 1t
ack to Bolivar's original conception
I a meeting to discuss the high in
'rests Of peace and war with the
sst of the world"
And in the meantime. American
restige wanes as German, Italian
nd Japanese dollars and immi-