Evening star., 1946-01-18
Goszs al M
u. S. Price Ceilings
Seen Depressing
Guatemala Wages
BY Gretchen Smith
Women's Club Editor,

How price controls IN the United
States indirectly cause continuation
of substandard wages among the
coffee laborers in Guatemala was ex-
planned by the Guatemalan Ambas-
sador, Senor Don Jorge Garcia Gra-
nados, in an address last night be-
fore the Club de las Americas.
Declaring that coffee made up 65
per cent of the total exports of the
country, the Ambassador said that
progressive legislation had been
passed in Guatemala in the last year
and half after new political
economic program, involving in
creasing characterization, had been
instituted. He described the shock
ing wage level" under which the
chicle and coffee workers had la
bored for years, causing condition
of "peonage at it's lowest level"
THE same general conditions ex-
listed in our banana industry" he
added, "and wages were abysmally
low"
With overthrow of the old govern
ment and abolishment of ancient,
unjust laws, he said, Guatemalan la
borers found their lot improved
slightly, daily wages rising from to
Is cents a day to As cents.
But even As cents day Is too low
to maintain decent standards of liv-
ing, the speaker emphasized, so cof-
fee' growers have been told they
must raise wages.
"The answer: The United States
is our big customer and he has price
ceilings. We are squeezed in be-
tween. We cannot pay these higher
wages and survive"
Price controls are healthy and
VITAL the Ambassador added, but
it was never intended as an instru-
ment for maintaining starvation
wages for the thousands of Guate-
malan workers who earn their bread
on the coffee plantations"
Ambassador Garcia Granados said
plans were now underway to develop
Guatemala's little-known territory
OF Peten, colonization of which in
the past has been retarded because
OF barriers raised by British Hon.
duras, preventing an outlet to- the
Atlantic.
Here it is strikingly obvious
that a national problem is not solu-
BILE in its own small environs," he
asserted. 1T becomes an interna-
tlonal job. For, regarding develop
ment of Peten, an equitable adjust
ment of Belize must be effected with
Great Britain through the United
Nations Organization"
The Ambassador expressed con-
f1dence in the eventual settlement
OF his country's problems, including
adjustment of discriminatory tax
laws faVoring foreign business con-
Germs.
"A new day is rising when Justice
and equity will take their proper
place" he declared. I'VE are en-
couraged by the single factor that
characterizes these changing days
the growing prestige of the little
mans voice in national and world
Ambassador Garcia Granados'
talk was the last in a series of pro-
grams given by the Club de las
Americas honoring countries of
South and Central America.
In addition to the address. a
high light of the evening was the
singing of Guatemalan songs by a
group of 40 girls from Arlington
Farms, directed by La Velle Ros-
selot, Music of Guatemala was
played by the United States Army
Band under the leadership of War
rant Officer Hugh j. Curry.
A motion picture in technicoIor.
Modern Guatemala concluded the
program.
Ambassador Garcia Granados was
introduced by the president of the
club, DR.. Francisco Band c., who
is leaving Tuesday by plane for
Mexico, Central America, Panama
and other Latin American countries
on a special mission for the Ameri-
can Automobile Association. He will
pc gone about three months. Men,
bers of the club will entertain DR..
Banda at luncheon Saturday at the
Madrlllon Restaurant.