Evening star., 1938-07-28
BY ANDRUE BERDING,

BY ANDRUE BERDING,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.
Good Neighbor Uncle Sam set out
in earnest today to improve his rela-
tions with the folks on the south side
Of the street.
Inaugurating Division of Cultural
Rela tions. the State Department began
to execute its many proposals to make
firmer friends of the Latin American
republics.
The new division, headed by DIR.
Ben M. Cherrington of the University
of Denver. was designed primarily to
increase cultural exchanges and i'm
prove contacts between the other re-
publics of the Western Hemisphere
and the United States. This In the
face Of determined efforts by Ger
many. Italy and Japan to win SYM
pathy and support-economic and po-
litical-in Latin America.
Broad Range to Program.
The administrators program ranges
from better shipping lines to South
<AilCi ASo anu u d0S A-ooiSldllNC JllC
Export Import Bank to exchanges of
students. professors and books with our
friends to the south.
Next month a flight of six Army
bombers will be made to BoRota, Co.
iombia, to participate in the inaugural
ceremonies of the new President. A
similar flight to Buenos Aires for the
Inauguration of President Ortiz re-
Gently brought . wave of good will
toward this country.
State Department officials regard 1t
as unfortunate but not irremediable
that the problem should start at
time when the United States and
her nearest Latin American neighbor,
Mexico, are engaged in q squabble
over confiscation OF American prop
erty.
But they consider the moment pro-
pitious in that Bolivia and Paraguay
have signed treaty of peace to end
their boundary war, partly through
the mediation Of the United States.
Incident Revealed Need.
The Mexican incident has demon
strated to officials the need O.. q COM
prehensive good relationship with the
Latin American states. They reason
that American investments are heavy
In most of the republics. The land
seizure example Of Mexico is naturally
tempting to all. Good relationships.
officials say, are necessary to prevent
it from spreading without justifica ton
At the same time. 4 determined but
policy toward Mexico
is to be adopted. at least with regard
to seized American farm lands, 50
that other Latin American nations will
not get the idea the good neighbor has
become a goody. goody neighbor.
State Department ofhcials told
Congress several months ago that 4
division of cultural relations was es-
sential to a strengthening Of this
country's ties with its southern neigh
bors. They spoke of propaganda ac-
tivities in Latin America by European
totalitarian states, such as Germany
and Italy, and to a lesser degree by
Japan.
In putting the plan into effect We'd
nesday Secretary Hull signed = de-
partmental order in explanation as
follows:
THE new division will have general
charge of official international activi-
ties Of this department with respect
to cultural relations. embracing the
exchange of professors, teachers and
students; cooperation in the field OF
art, literature and other INTEL
lectural and cultural attainments: the
formulation and distribution of >libra-
ries OF representative works OF the
United States and suitable translate
thereof; the preparations for the man
agement Of the participation by this
Government in international exposi-
tions in this field; supervision of par
ticipation by this Government in in
ternational radio broadcasts; encour-
agement of a closer relationship be-
tween unof1icial organizations Of this
and Of foreign governments engaged
in cultural and intellectual activities,
and, generally, the dissemination
abroad Of the representative intellec-
tual and cultural works of the United
States and the improvement and
broadening Of the scope of our cul-
tural relations with other countries"
DR.. Cherrington, the new head, is
50 and for II years has been director
of program Of public education in
world affairs at the University OF
Denver. He has Travelled abroad fire.
quently to study social and cultural
developments and to bring foreign
leaders to talk at the university.
The personnel OF the division will
include five officers and three clerks.
Congress appropriated $4,000 for its
work this current fiscal year. 1t has
been made plain that 1t is not intended
to be A nropa GA nda aoAncv