The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-03-17
But Americans Paid

important were charged a small fee
for the inspection trip.
But Americans Paid
But-the cost of this goodwill ges-
ture by Italy, this impressing of the
Latin Americans, was borne by
Americans. OF the nearly 600 pas
sengers all except less than dozen
were citizens of the United States.
They paid for their tickets. They
paid stiff prices for shore excur-
sions. They bought Brazilian mil
refs at 1910 for the dollar at the
ships bank, and. found they could
get almost 20 for the dollar in Riol
On the day after the Rex left Rio
the French liner Normandie ar
rived, making the Italian record of
having the largest ship ever to en-
ter Rio harbor one of brief stand
ing. don't know about the French
efforts to entertain the Brazilians.
Generally they are not as smart
about such things as the Italians.
But whether the French made equal
use Of the opportunity or not GER
tainly the great liner must have inn
pressed the people of South Amer
lea generally, just as the Rex did.
Such things are intangible.
Now the Importance of all this is
enhanced by the fact that of all the
countries south of Panama, Brazil,
for more than 20 years, has been
the best friend of the United States.
AT virtually every Pan-American
conference, Brazil has sided with
the United States in some of the
embarrassing situations which have
arisen. Cuba has been just as good
friend, but her friendship has
always been discounted by the in
situation that the United States con-
trolled Cuba.
Yet here are two great European
powers, seeking to ingratiatet them
selves with our international pal, so
to speak, and doing it with their
travelling salesmen's expenses all
paid by American tourists!
May Help Business
American business probably will
benefit substantially as a result of
the British vote of confidence in
Prime Minister Neville Chamber
lain following the resignation of
Foreign Minister Anthony Eden.
Mr.. Chamberlain happens to be an
industrialist at heart, and he favors
the reduction of trade barriers in
Europe where food shortage is a
chief cause of unrest.
II the American theory that more
freedom of trade produces national
and international prosperity is cor
rect, then England should be more
prosperous under the Chamberlain
| policy. Furthermore, England will
prosper in proportion to the remov-
al of the threat of immediate war.
Not only England, but Chancellor
Hitler is trying to avoid war. Wash
| ingt0n diplomats believe Hitler is
determined to get back the lost Ger
man colonies, but that he wants to
do it without war. Now that Mr..
Eden and his adherence to the
League of Nations are out of the
way, they believe Hitler will sue
coed in his aim. England S surren-
der to the demands of the dictators,
distasteful as it may seem to many
Americans, probably will stave off
war for another three years or 50.
| That leaves England free to 60
ahead with her armament program,
which will contribute much to BUSH
ness activity there.
England is by far this country's
best customer. And, being busy
as she is with armament rnanufac-
ture, demands even more goods
than she normally would. Then too,
England's being engaged in rearm-
ing herself gives the United States
an opportunity to sell goods to coun-
tries that have been buying from
| England.
Our Foreign Trade
The United Kingdom will not only
buy our manufactures, but viii buy
1 ouI ldItil LuilliliOdillEo. oIlE Vi tflG
main detectives of the trade agree
ment being Negotiated with England
is to sell herNno1t of our. agricul-
tural products. The United States
| has had a great deal Of trouble with
surplus crops. Sometimes it's
wheat, sometimes it's corn, and
most recently it was cotton. But
farm labor costs. and the American
standard of living, make our farm
products difficult to sell except at
| improbable cut prices. Stabiliza-
ton of farm prices by the govern
ment has only added to the trouble.
Cheap-labor countries start produc-
ing in competition against this coun-
try as soon as our prices are fixed
at high levels.
The United Kingdom and Europe
in general buy all the commodities
they can get from the low-cost la
Dor countries. Now, in the trade
agreement program, this country
will cut tariffs on things England
sells LIS, SO that England and, of
course, other. countries, will buy our
farm surplus.