Evening star., 1938-11-15


was broadcast from the nor1
Building.
American Republics is through in
creased travel Of our respective peo-
Piles. Unfortunately, the internal
regulations controlling the admis-
sion of travellers are not always such
as to stimulate the tourist move
ment. It is our desire, therefore, to
develop more up-to-date and more
liberal reciprocal agreements which
will greatly help to stimulate travel.
We are constantly working on this
problem and I am glad to say that
we are finding generally under
standing attitude toward its i'm
portance and are making very real
progress.
Mr.. Ickes-I am glad to hear that,
Mr.. Messersmith. I have read with
interest of your new Cultural Re-
lations Division. 1t sound pretty
imposing What does 1t really mean?
Mr.. Messersmith We have, Of
course, always been very much in
terested in the development and
strengthening of our cultural ties
with other countries In America
we believe as strongly In the eX-
change of ideas as we do in the
exchange of goods. The highest de-
velopment of the social and cultur-
al, as we'll as the industrial, life Of
country cannot be reached unless
it is receptive to the best that it
can get of others Through the new
division in the Department OF State
we hope to be able to give more
concrete and productive study to the
development of our cultural rela-
tions.
Mr. Ickes-May I ask what imme-
diate' steps you intend to take in this
direction?
Mr.. Messersmith-We envisage our
problem for the immediate future as
that Of co-ordinating the private
initiative which has already been
so productive in this country. Many
institutions, such as the Rockefeller,
Guggenheim and Carnegie Founda-
tions, have been doing very useful
work Many learned societies are
active in this field. We hope to be
able not only better to coordinate
these private activities, but to acti-
vate them and so far as necessary
to supplement them through Gov
ernment initiative. We wish partic-
ularly to stimulate the exchange Of
students and professors between
other countries and the United
States. We hope to stimulate the
translation Of books and to bring
about their wider circulation.
Mr.. Ickes-Will you restrict the
activities of the division to any par
ticular part of the world?
Relationships With All.
Mr.. Messersmith-No. We have
now relationships with all countries
In the world which we value and our
one hope is to strengthen these re-
lationships.
Mr.. Ickes-Then the success Of
your plans will increase travel be-
tween the Americas by cultivating a
friendly interest between our respec-
tive peoples. That's a sound ap-
proach. What is the Department
OF Commerce doing. Mr.. Roper?
Mr.. Roper-I believe that nothing
contributes more to the Joy OF travel,
by land and sea, than the conscious
ness of safety. The Department Of
Commerce is greatly concerned with
protection of human life and prop
erty. To this end a vast network
of efficient aids to navigation is
maintained on the coastal and in
land waters of the United States.
Lighthouses, buoys and fog signals
serve as the eyes and ears of mari
ners. They enable him to meet his
responsibility in safety, night and
day, in all weather.
One Casualty Among 500, ,000, 900.
| Every American vessel must meet
rigid construction specifications as q
| precaution against the hazards of
fire and other elements, and give
prime consideration to the factor of
safety. Success in this regard is re-
flected by the fact that in 31a years
there has been only one passenger
casualty on an American vessel, out
of approximately 8o0,oo00OO passen-
gers carried.
Mr.. IckeS-An excellent record,
Mr.. Roper. Then you do consider
commerce factor In the cultivation
of good will?
Mr.. Roper-1ndeed I do! The in
terchange Of goods and services is
a vital complement to the cultiva-
ton OF understanding and the mu-
tual good will between nations. To
facilitate this relationship the De-
partment of Commerce maintains 80
foreign commerce Offices. The men
in charge of these far-flung out
posts submit reports which contain
information on which to base COM
mercial relations. They also render
all possible aid to the travelling pub
lie.
Mr.. 1ckes-What do you consider
the intangible results of travel?
Mr.. Roper-Travel broadens-and
is educational. 1t makes better citi-
zens, hence better patriots. It
teaches tolerance and is great
clearing house for the interchange
Of ideas. The better acquainted we
are with a neighbor, whether next
door or overseas, the easier it is to
understand that neighbor-whether
an individual or nation. Travel
is the tie that binds people together.
It can be made to bind all nations
together.
Mr.. Ickes-There are several ma
tions which could profit by that
statement. Well, we've covered regu-
Any Cold May -