Evening star., 1938-09-13

share Of the total import trade Of our
American neighbors increase from SIS
per cent to SAT per cent, whereas that
of our principal competitors decreased.
Once again we are the principal sup
plier of goods to Brazil, Chile and the
Argentine.
Finally and perhaps most important
to really Arm understanding between
the United States and the other Amer
lean republics Is the necessity for q
truer appreciation on the one hand
OF the culture and civilization Of the
American countries by the people Of
the United States, and similarly on
the other, of the attainments and the
civilization Of the United States by
the countries to the south of us.
Appreciation Is Basic.
There can be no solid basis of friend
ship where ignorance exists. Under
standing Of and appreciation for the
habits, the art. the literature OF others
is indispensable to enduring friend
ship. In order to stimulate and en-
courage this understanding the De-
partment Of State has recently set up
= Division Of Cultural Relations. This
division will administer the convep,
ton for the exchange Of students and
professors signed at the Buenos Aires
Conference in 1896.
Under the maximum application Of
this convention the United States
would receive each year 40 students
from the other American republics and
send 40 students to them. all of them
on fellowships. There Is no better
way to understand a foreign country
than to live and study in 1t, SO that
these students, whether Americans
going south or students Of the other
American republics coming north,
would in the future serve as centers
Of information and understanding.
The new Division OF Cultural Rela-
tions will have many other functions,
such as the stimulation of the ex-
change Of art and of music, the
establishment OF libraries OF American
books IN the principal centers in the
SeAASA ~AASAiNnh NSuANl lCo hllo VIC
execution Of the resolution relating
to cultural interchange adopted at the
several Inter-American Conferences
While these functions may not be of
character that receive front pa ge
display in the newspapers, they are
more far-reaching in the bringing
about Of true understanding and
friendship than many snowy enter
prises which make q momentary i'm
preston but leave no deep effect.
Based on Fair Dealing.
This then is a brief outline Of some
aspects Of the good neighbor policy.
1t is a policy based upon fair play
and fair dealing, respect for the rights
and sensibilities of others, and mutual
trust and confidence. 1t is a polio;
OF mutual helpfulness, Of cooperation.
In order to be able to play its part,
the Congress has just authorized the
President to detail civilian employees
OF our Government to assist the gov
ernments Of the other American coun-
tries upon their request.
This legislation will permit us to
cooperate in the wide gamut of non-
military governmental activity. But
1t is obvious. think, that the good
neighbor policy, in order to be truly
successful in the sense that all coun-
tries benefit by 1t, must be reciprocal.
In this connection President Roosevelt
said that the policy of the good neigh
Dor is "a policy which can never be
merely unilateral. In stressing it the
American republics appreciate, 1 am
conndent. that 1t is bilateral and
multilateral, and that the fair dealing
which 1T implies must be reciprocated. "
This Government will leave no stone
unturned to do its share in maintain
ing continuing and expanding this
policy.