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National Affairs: Fifteenth Crossing

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TIME

. Goodwill between nations is not a policy or a task; it is a deduction arising from a series of actions. It is not a diplomatic formula; it is an inspiration which flows from the ideals of a people—Herbert Hoover in Costa Rica.

Exuding goodwill—and perspiration, for it grew hotter & hotter—President-Elect Hoover & party proceeded down the west coast of Central America, making four calls, to South America.

Salvador. After Amapala, Honduras, the first stop (TIME, Dec. 3) came La Union, Salvador. The Gulf of Fonseca was ruffled by a smart blow and the U. S. S. Maryland’s launches, in which the travellers crossed it, jounced and plunged. Like President Barahona of Honduras, President Pio Romero Bosque of Salvador found himself unable to receive the visitors, but sent his ministers of exchequer and foreign affairs. These dined the Hoovers at the home of James Gaylor, railroad man. The Maryland sailed that evening for Corinto, Nicaragua.

Nicaragua. President-Elect Hoover had not yet seen a Latin American President, though at Amapala, President-Elect Colindres of Honduras had appeared. At Corinto, not only President Adolfo Diaz was present but also onetime-President Frutos Chamorro, “Conservative” leader of 17 revolutions in the past four years, and President-Elect Jose Maria Moncada, “Liberal” leader whose election was overseen by U. S. Marines. All three boarded the Maryland to break bread and discuss common desires. At a shore reception, Mr. Hoover had been handed a glass of champagne which he politely touched to his lips but did not sip. He now toasted Nicaragua in water and observed: “This occasion . . . represents a growing and united Nicaraguan people; a consolidation of forces for domestic peace. … I know it is the will of the American people that we should cooperate. . . .”

Common desires expressed by MM. Diaz, Moncada & Chamorre were, a) To retain some U. S. Marines to continue training the Nicaraguan national guard; b) to persuade the U. S. soon to build the long-planned interoceanic canal across Nicaragua, for which a treaty and $3,000,000 have already been furnished. One of the canal’s original promoters, Judge Henry Douglas Pierce of Indianapolis, who first traversed the proposed route from west to east half a century ago, was in Nicaragua on one of many missions which have brought Nicaraguan leaders to favor the project. Judge Pierce, stricken with pneumonia at Managua, missed the Hoover party but was cheered by reports that the President-Elect seemed impressed with the necessity for another canal in view of the Panama Canal’s increasing crowdedness.

The Hoover party left Nicaragua amid conventional comments.

Costa Rica. The last stop in Central America seemed the most impressive. For one thing, Mr. Hoover put on his cutaway and high hat for the first time during the trip. Costa Ricans are ceremonious. Then, there was a 70-mile rail trip, climbing most of the way through tropical mountains, to San Jose, the capital. President Cleto Gonzalez Viquez, a bold gentleman with a scholar’s brow, delivered perhaps the most sense-making speech of welcome thus far. He warmly and respectfully welcomed “the illustrious statesman and distinguished organizer,” referred to the U.S. as a “colossus,” acknowledged Costa Rica’s debt to the late Chief Justice White of the U.S.* and, without flourishes, said: “There is nothing more natural than the purpose of my Government to maintain and improve the good relations.” The Hoover reply was in kind. Besides orating about “cooperation” and “contacts,” Mr. Hoover tried to define what he means by “goodwill” (see above) and mentioned two specific things for which Costa Rica may be admired—wide distribution of land and home ownership, and four times as many schoolteachers as soldiers.

Kingdom of Neptune. Over the Maryland’s side clambered a piratical visitor who said he was Davy Jones, emissary of King Neptune. He bore warrants to arrest some 800 of the 1,300 officers, men, guests on board who had never before crossed the Equator. Mr. & Mrs. Hoover were exempt, he being a “shellback” with 14 crossings of the Equator to his credit, more than anyone else present except his naval aide, Commander A. T. Beauregard.

All night the Maryland echoed with the scufflings of “shellbacks” capturing and securing “pollywogs” for the next day’s rites. Officers as well as gobs were chained in the brig until, at 9 a. m.) the parade began.

First neophyte was Son Allan Hoover.

It was charged that he had evaded Neptune’s court when he crossed the Equator two years ago; also, that he had sunburned the tonsils of his illustrious father’s se'” -: tary with a reading glass while the secretary (George Akerson) slept on deck. First he had to lie in state, lily in hand, while the band played a dirge and newsmen who had boasted about having dress clothes with them paraded in cutaways and silk toppers. Then, neck and hands in stocks, he was led before the judges (his parents) and made to kiss the Royal Baby (a thuglike gob clutching a gallon bottle of milk and an electrified wand). A royal bootlegger administered a stoup of vinegar & pepper from a whiskey bottle. Then Son Allan was lathered with lampblack, shaved with a wooden razor, dumped into a tank of water and beaten down a gauntlet with cotton clubs.

Other pollywogs, other pranks. The Maryland passed the Equator, arrived 30 miles off the mouth of the Guayas River, anchored.

Ecuador. The gunboat Cleveland had steamed down from Panama to convey the travellers up the shallow estuary to Guayaquil, 40 miles inland. Soon after Saturday’s sunup the trip began. Ecuador’s cruiser, the Cotopaxi, came proudly downstream to Puna Island with a welcoming committee.

Poorest of South American republics, the country that gave the world the “Panama” hat gave the U.S. President-Elect a handsome reception. Motorboats swarmed out to surround and escort the Cleveland to her mooring. Some 50,000 of the populace packed the waterfront.

President Isidro Ayora, who, besides being his country’s foremost surgeon, is a sort of Ecuadorian Hamilton under whom Ecuadorian finances have been reborn, was at the pier to offer Mr. Hoover a hearty abrazo (hug and back-pat), which Mr. Hoover accepted and deftly returned. The nation’s leading newspaper announced that this was “one of the greatest events in the history of Ecuador, a never-to-be-forgotten day.” At the reception, the Ayora speech mentioned Washington, Lincoln, Wilson. The Hoover speech mentioned the surplus (first on record) in Ecuador’s treasury.

The Hoovers spent their first night ashore since leaving California.

They learned that Equador, too, has bootleggers—villains who circumvent the national match monopoly, smugglers of mechanical cigaret lighters.

Laden with gifts of hats and lace, the Hoovers reboarded the Cleveland accompanied by Dr. Ayora. The two men talked in private for three’hours. There was a state dinner on the Cleveland, a ball on shore. At daybreak the Cleveland^ carried the Hoovers out to the Maryland which steamed forthwith for Callao.

Peru. An advance welcome has been sent to Guayaquil by airplane from President Agusto B. Leguia of Peru, the latter’s picture and a portrait of James (Doctrine) Monroe were hung together in the

Parliament building at Lima. The cruiser Almirante Grau flagship of the Peruvian navy (13 vessels) steamed out to meet the Maryland. U.S. Ambassador-to-Peru, Alexander Pollock Moore had his shoes shined extra-specially and congratulated himself again and again on being where he was in the middle of things as usual.

The shores of the potato’s native land* are walled by mountains which majestically echoed the salutes and counter-salutes of nations as the Maryland steamed in. Motors waited in Callao to carry the Hoovers up to Lima, perhaps the best U.S.-advertised city in South America, thanks to its non-existent Bridge of San Luis Rey.

Plans were made to interpolate in the Hoover itinerary after Lima a call on landlocked Bolivia. The Maryland was to halt off Antofagasta (Chile) and receive Bolivan officials on board. Chile, shocked and shaken by an earthquake (see p. 19) awaited with double eagerness the arrival of the famed U.S. disaster-doctor.

* In 1900, President Lorbet of France rendered an arbitral decision which was accepted, on the long-disputed Costa Rica-Panama boundary line. But the terms he used were general. The question was submitted to the U. S. and in 1914 Chief Justice White rendered a decision favorable to Costa Rica. Panama protested. There was dispute and even gunfire as late as 1921, when President Harding insisted that Panama accept the White award. * The white potato (Battata) was “discovered” along with Incas Andes gold etc. etc. by 16th century Spaniards. The potato entered Spain, Italy, Belgium before its supposed home Ireland, whither it was taken in 1586 by colonists returning from Raleigh’s venture in the Carolinas.

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