Hull Homecoming

Leaving historians to decide what if anything was accomplished at the Seventh Pan-American Conference at Montevideo (TIME, Dec. 11 et seq.), grey and graceful Secretary of State Cordell Hull was by last week completing his leisurely journey back to the U. S. In country after country he stopped to eat the ritual chicken and soothe Latin American sensibilities with smiles and goodwill speeches.

Peru. At a State dinner given by Peru's President General Oscar Benavides, Secretary Hull beamed while President Benavides reminded him of his own handsome but vague remarks at Montevideo in favor of free trade. Old school Tennessee Democrat that he is, Secretary Hull knows well that present manifestations of the New Deal have definitely scuttled the Democratic Party's traditional low tariff policy, that the U. S. will probably raise rather than lower its tariffs. Nevertheless, smiling over the finger bowls. Secretary Hull said: "The toast is a tribute to the enlightened policy upon which President Roosevelt has embarked. . . ."

Ecuador. At Callao, Peru, Secretary Hull and party boarded the sleek, sumptuous Grace Liner Santa Barbara. So did the Pan-American delegations of Nicaragua, Haiti. Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala. Off La Libertad, Ecuador the Santa Barbara with her load of diplomacy stopped briefly, but not long enough for Secretary Hull to pay even a flying visit to the Capital. However, a boatload of welcoming Ecuadorian officials scrambled aboard, were treated to food & oratory at Secretary Hull's expense.

Panama. A great sheaf of snow-white lilies was President and Sra. Harmodio Arias' gift to Mrs. Hull when the Santa reached Panama City. In the Zone, one of the most heavily fortified districts in the world, Secretary Hull chose to talk about disarmament: "We cannot go too far or do too much in carrying this gospel to the uttermost parts of our lands. Slaughter by the outlawed means of armed conflict would be nothing less than murder and assassination."

A military parade was canceled.

Cuba. Here Secretary Hull did not stop, but when the ship to which he had transferred, the U. S. cruiser Richmond, reached Key West, he had a long two-hour conference with Acting Ambassador Caffery on Cuban affairs. Speeding to Washington, Mr. Hull gave correspondents to understand that the new Cuban regime would soon be recognized.

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