Evening star., 1949-06-19

III tliC hAlS POWClo, Oilly VI AS A0s .
tries have had a hand in requiring
many of the favorable conditions
which surround the employees Of
foreign enterprises. On the other
!. hand, the industrialists them
selves. In a spirit of enlightened
self interest, have not only CO.
operated to the fullest extent but
have instituted many social inno-
vations of their own.
All of these countries are ex-
periencing serious economic
slump. During the war production
was stimulated. We ourselves
poured hundreds of millions of
dollars into every one Of the ma
tions in an effort to get them to
produce and supply us with
strategic and critical war mate
rials. We even promised them at
the time that we would not cut.
of this cooperation suddenly
That is, we assured them that
any recession in purchasing the
products of their vastly expanded
enterprises would be done grad
ually, so that they would be able
to readjust their economies and
cushion the shock.
Public Blames Us
Unfortunately. we were not able
to carry out all of our promises.
The economic catastrophe in
Europe and the possibility that
communism might sweep the con-
tinent made 1t necessary for us
to expend billions to preserve the
Governments and the economy
of those countries, thus making 1t
impossible for us to- continue large
expenditures in Latin America.
Nevertheless, a feeling has
grown up in all the countries that
we have forgotten their co-opera-
ton and their efforts in the hour
of our great need. Even where
leaders and responsible officials
understand our position, it Is
difficult to prevent the general
public from blaming us. for their
sad plight. Unfortunately, such
conditions have played into the
hands of the Communist and
other extremists who seek to en-
barrass and discredit Uncle Sam
throughout the world.
The greatest handicap Of the
majority Of the Latin American
countries today Is the lack OF
dollar exchange.
The only way the Latin Ameri-
can countries can get dollars is
through the sale of their products
to the United States, or outright
loans or credits to the various
governments. Our purchases from
that part OF the world, except for
oil, sugar. coffee, nitrate and a few
other products, are at an aN-ttme
| low. There is very little DISPOSE
ton on the part of the Export
Import Bank, or any other
governmental agencies, to supply
substantial loans and credits to
Latin American governments as
such.
Hollow Phrases
/ In 1s48 we assured the Latin
governments that the Marshall
Plan would be a great boon to all
the nations of this. hemisphere
which have foods and raw ma
terials to sell. Secretary of State
Marshall himself. at the Bogota
Conference, pointed out that tre-
mendous quantities of Latin
American materials would be
needed to help rehabilitate the
devastated nations OF the OLD
World. He further assured them
that a newly revitalized Europe
would mean a restoration OF pre-
war European markets Tor the
Latin American countries.
Whether Intentionally or not,
we certainly left them with the
impression that large sums OF
United States money spent in Eu-
ope would go for the financing OF
Latin American products. In fact,
in the hearings before Congress
on the Marshall Plan there were
statements to the effect that more
than 81 500, 600, 900 would be spent
outside the United States, presum-
ably in Latin America, for foods
and other raw materials for the
needy nations of the Old World.
But the Marshall Plan has not
worked out for the Latins. Since
| it was inaugurated. and up until
April 80 of this year, there had
been comparatively small author
izations for procurement Of Latin
American goods and materials.
Try to Do Better
Most of the countries are strug-
Cling against tremendous odds to
better their own conditions and
improve the lot of their people.
In some cases they are doing II
inefficiently, If not badly. They
need some more heavy machinery
and technical experts. Their gov-
ernments must fight reaction and
Communist influences, particular
lly the countries which are trying
| to maintain something resembling
democratic and constitutional re-
gimes.
Mexico, In spite of what many
foreigners think is its sflort-Sight-
ed policy concerning oil. is at the
same time building irrigation
projects to open up more agrl-
cultural land for the people. For
| several years highway construction
has gone forward without letup.
Within the next few months Mex
leo viii have completed the last
link in its great Pan-American
highway from the Texas TO the
Guatemalan borders, Other roads
branching out from the cities in
i the rural districts are being con-
IetY.,efoi at rax,id rate