Evening star., 1938-09-13
|NTER-AMER|CAN
ACCORD SPEEDED
U. S. Good Neighbor Policy
Bearing Rich Fruits,
Duggan Says.

Laurence Duggan, chief Of the Divi-
sion of South American Republics in
the State Department, spoke last night
on How the Good Neighbor Policy
Works and Our Closer Relations With
the South American Republics" in the
National Radio Forum, arranged by
The Star and heard over Nation
wide network Of the National Broad
casting Co. The text of his address
follows:
It gives me great pleasure to speak
to the listeners OF the National Radio
Forum on the subject of the good
neighbor policy. The increased inter-
est throughout this country in the
other American countries is a new and
significant development.
It was not so long ago that our
people were complacent and satisfied
with kindergarten knowledge of our
neighbors to the south OF US What
was even more discouraging than this
elementary, incomplete and faulty
knowledge was the apparent lack OF
desire of our people to become ac-
quainted with these neighbors, to find
out what sort of people they were.
what their customs were. how they
lived and what they thought. If any
excuse can be offered for this lament
able lack of appreciation it would
probably be that our people. SO stren-
uously occupied in extending the
frontier in turning new lands to the
plow in developing mines and build
ing railroads. had little time for be-
coming acquainted with the peoples OF
other countries
Attitude Offended Nations.
The result of this uninformed and
uninterested public opinion may be
seen from a glance at the state OF our
relations with the other American
countries during the last 40 years. Our
attitude of complacency offended a
sensitive and proud people who in cul-
tural pursuits were far advanced be-
fore the American Colonies were even
founded.
Our economic policy of ever-mount-
ing tariffs that impeded and reduced
the export of their goods to the United
States caused deep resentment, espe-
cially since this policy was accom-
panied by policy of expansion of the
export of our goods to those very
countries. And finally our policies of
the big stick" of dollar diplomacy"
Of Intervention, produced fear and
caused many countries to wonder
which one would be singled out next
The cumulative effects of 40 years OF
SNUG satisfaction. of a non-reciprocal
commercial policy. and of downright
interference could not have been shown
more clearly than at the Inter-Ameri-
can Conference at Havana in 1928.
At this meeting the United States
stood alone, friendless and suspected
Clearly unless We liked this role, the
time for change had arrived.
Certain steps were taken prior to
March. 1888, to improve our relations.
The Forbes Commission suggested a
program for the gradual termination
OF the occupation Of Haiti, and our
intervention In Nicaragua was termi-
mated on January 2, 1898. But it
was not until the announcement of the
good neighbor policy by President
Roosevelt in his first inaugural mes
sage that any comprehensive program
was adopted to improve our relations
as whole. In this message the
President stated:
In the field of world policy 1
would dedicate this Nation to the
policy OF the good neighbor-the
neighbor who resolutely respects
himself, and because he does so.
respects the rights of others-the
neighbor who respects his obliga-
tions and respects the sanctity of
his agreements in and with a world
OF neighbors."
Many Practical Effects.
There was nothing particularly new
about these sentiments. What was
new was their immediate translation
into practical effect in numberless
ways. Probably most familiar to YOU
are the following ways In which this
was done: In the realm of politics the
abrogation of the so-called Platt
amendment that gave this country a
right OF Intervention in Cuba; the
llquldatlon OF the Intervention In
Haiti; the signature of new treaties
with Panama, eliminating from the
treaty of 1903 certain provisions con-
sldered by Panama as reflection upon
It's dignity as sovereign and inde-
pendent state; the abrogation of the
rleht to construct railroad across
the lsthmuS OF Tehuantepec, consid-
cred by Mexico as an infringement
upon its sovereignty; and the sigma
ture of treaties pledging this country
not to interfere in the internal or ex-
ternal affairs of the other American
republics
In an endeavor to increase our COM
merce the Congress authorized the
President to reduce tariff barriers
within certain limits through the me-
dllm Of trade agreements, regarding
which l will say more hereafter, and
Cuba was given fair participation in
our sugar market
lhe result of these and a multitude
OF other steps has been to dissipate the 4
cloud OF suspicion that hung like pail
over the motives of the United States.
How deep has been the change, not
oiliS iii tlIc dttituue Ol tIo govern
ments OF our neighbors, but also of
the peoples. was witnessed bv the re-
cephon accorded President Roosevelt
on his trip to the Buenos Aires Con-
ference in 1895. Whether in Brazil,
Uruguay or Argentina, and regardless
OF time OF day or weather, mammoth
crowds gathered to give him enthusi-
sstic welcome. Every American citi-
zen should have felt gratified by these
ovations. They represented far more
than cordial welcome to the Presi-
dent Of the United States They rep
resented the testimonials Of millions to
the good neighbor policy.
Pathway Barely Charted.
But after all we have only made
beginning. The debris that cluttered
the way to mutual understanding has
been removed hllt the Ya thuo, =, loo Jipo