The Washington times., 1938-08-01
Warming Up to the
NeighbOrs


Interesting institution
This bank set up in 1885 by executive order
of President Roosevelt It's purpose to furnish money
to be used as oil to lubrcate foreign tradenot
give the money away, but simply put it where it will
do the most good and take it back when the particular
job is DONE
The ExporI Import Bank says that it is tapering
off its activities regarding trade with European nations
and is redoubng it's efforts to faci-
ErpOrt-ImpOrt itate trade with Central and South
Rnnk Pollen American nations
Haiti was helped on public works
program recently discount of it's notes through
the Export-Import Bank; the wheels of big Brazilian
order for railroad equipment from the United States
being oiled with Export-Import money.
1t sounds good Aside from being gesture of friend
ship toward Western Hemisphere neghbors the
Export1mport Banks revised policy is practical from
point of view
South America behind it's fringes is as little de-
veoped Asia Africa and rich either of them
Thanks to Monroe Doctrine and to various nine
teenth century revolutions no foreign nations have
any South American territories of great consequence
The continent is not staked out Africa s under the
flags of six eight nations whose soldiers got to the
rivers and jungles first
The British have long enjoyed heavy trade with
South America, especially Argentina and Brazil.
muscing in and having pretty good luck at it, what
with help from their home governments
than the Export-Import Bank can now give American
traders. German Naz propagandists undoubtedly
at work trying to sell political ideas in South America
along with precision cameras, guns and other mer-
chandise
It is high time for to up with money to
these neghbors and potential better customers of
Most of them always have been pretty good neighbors
he nod ole +hair
affections away from us.
Which brings us to a Latin-American gentleman who
has not been acting like such good neghbor of late
namely
PRESIDENT CARDENAS
of Mexico.
In press conference last week, Neighbor Cardenas
limited that he going to snoot Secretary of State
Hus recent note demand
OWUeHuS WUY ing arbitration of claims for
RonT,, Tbio Vook numerous Mexican govern
ment seizures of farms
owned by Americans in Mexico. The shooting would
be done sometime this week, Neighbor Cardenas said
AS for the oil grab of last March, he gave his inter-
viewers to understand that he would not back down
on that under any circumstances.
We hope Mr. Hull will refuse to be buffaloed by Mr.
Cardenas whatever Mr.. Cardenas' reply to Mr.. Hull
may be.
We think the United States has taken enough CUFF
from this little gent-gratuitous and unmerited CUFF
The State Department finally cut loose on him, in
wholly polite and unprovocatve way but also in firm
and vigorous way
For us to back down would, we surmise, make
an unfortunate impression on Neighbor Cardenas.
Mexico being what it is Mexican politician who has
musced his way to the Mexican presidency is almost
sure to be who understands forcefulness and
courage better than he understands anything else Be
too polite to such man. and his natural inference is
that you afraid of him, that he has you buffed.
show of firmness in will most likely save you
from having to rap him in the teeth while later.
The remarks contained in this column furnish, we
think, at least two why need to build
and keep continuously at peak efficiency the strongest
Navy in the world.
lie YokD News)
~ II