Statement Made at Buenaventura, Colombia, December 2, 1938, en route to the Conference BOUT five years ago I had the opportu nity for a brief visit at Buenaventura during my return from the Inter-American Conference at Montevideo. It does give me great pleasure, once again, to bring to you from the people and Government of my own country a message of the most cordial and friendly greetings. The democratic traditions of freedom, representative government, and orderly and peaceful progress in international affairs are firmly rooted in your country. The relations between Colombia and the United States are those of friendship and mutual confidence. We have worked together in the past in carrying forward the program which the American nations have set for themselves, and I have every confidence that we will continue to do so. The record of achievement in Colombia during recent years is a source of satisfaction and encouragement to all of us. Your country is making progress toward the economic and social welfare of its people which is essential for both national and international stability and peace. Colombia also can always be counted upon to support loyally the obligations which the American republics have assumed to govern certain phases of their relations with each other. The increasing friendship and mutual interests of our two countries find expression in the steps which have been taken to raise our respective diplomatic missions to the rank of embassies. We may be confident that the ties between us will be strengthened and that we will come to have an even greater knowledge and appreciation of each other's institutions and culture. Statement Made at Guayaquil, Ecuador, December 4, 1938, en route to the Conference LTHOUGH circumstances in the past A have prevented me from visiting Guay aquil and the country's capital at Quito, I recall with very warm feelings the cordial welcome that I was given at La Libertad about five years ago during my return from the InterAmerican Conference at Montevideo. I bring to the Ecuadoran people and Government an expression of the friendly greetings and sincere best wishes from the people and Government of the United States. As we in the United States become more familiar with the history and institutions of our American neighbors, we realize the rich contribution that Ecuador has made to American culture and civilization. A nation's position in the international family depends upon those finer qualities which make for the progress and dignity of the human race. Ecuador may be proud to possess such qualities. It was a source of great satisfaction to me when the trade agreement between our two countries, which became effective a little over a month ago, was signed. I sincerely hope that this agreement will serve to strengthen the friendly and mutually beneficial relations that have always existed between our peoples and Governments. The development of a natural and prosperous international trade is of the utmost importance to large and small nations alike. The basis exists for such a trade among the American nations, and it is my sincere desire to contribute in every possible way to the further stimulation of that trade. In this and in other matters of inter-American interest, I anticipate working with the representatives of Ecuador for those measures which are for our common good. Statement Made on Arrival at Callao, Port of Lima, December 7, 1938 I RETURN to Peru as a friend visiting friends. It was my great good fortune during January of 1934, while on the way home from the Inter-American Conference at Montevideo, to visit Callao and Lima. To anyone who knows this great center of American culture and history, the opportunity for more intimate acquaintance with it is especially welcome. In coming again to your hospitable shores I bring you the friendly greeting and expression of best wishes from the people and Government of my country. In its invitation to participate in the Conference which we have come to attend, the Government of Peru set forth in clear and challenging terms the grave problems by which we are confronted, and the obligation, which all of us have, to seek a solution for those problems. The American republics have made substan |