WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 37

Now, there is another phase of it, Mr. Chairman, that I want to
call to your attention. It seems to be the policy of our Government
at this time, and especially fostered by our President, to develop
commerce with Latin America—that is, Latin America so-called—
the countries to the south of us. We have at Brownsville a municipal
airport that for the last year has increased each week in its commodity
shipments of freight and passengers into and from Mexico.
The Panama Airways is consummating contracts, has them already
into Mexico and Guatemala, and you can go to Mexico City in a day
from Brownsville, and three times a week to Guatemala from Brownsville.
 They are consummating contracts all the way to Buenos Aires
and Montevideo. I happen to be in a position to know, because I
am the local attorney for them in that community. And business
men inform us that the matter of credits alone, acceptances, and so
forth, gives us a tremendous advantage over competitors from western
Europe who are competing for the trade of Latin America.
Those people are very sensitive. We had examples of that in 1916
and 1917, examples of the irritation which propaganda produced in
those people against America, and we suffered very much from it,
and I will say that I believe 1 know them well enough to make the
statement that they will resent an absolute restriction, a quota-basis
restriction, a change from present conditions, and that that resentment
 will affect our commerce with them and will affect local conditions
 along the border to the extent that human life may be endangered.
 I know that men were killed in 1915 and 1916 on account
of resentment, in Mexico.
The CratrMaN. Resentment against whom?
Mr. Yates. Against us, fostered by paid propaganda.
The CuairMan. Inspired by what country?
Mr. Yares. We understood at the time it was inspired by the
Germanic countries of central Europe. I think our State Department
 has ample files to justify that statement. 1 know they have.
It is easy to bring about that condition again. Those people are
not commercially minded as we are to the extent that we are, and
they will permit their sentiments to interfere with their commercial
advantages. You will recall that the South American countries
exercised their good offices at that time to compose the differences
between us and the then existing government of Mexico.
I call attention to that, gentlemen, because it is a matter, to my
mind, of far reaching importance for the future. I do not believe
that those who have not gone into Mexico and who have not come
in contact with the Indian mind can appreciate the danger which
our country stands in of hostilities that will arise as a result of this
thing, this restriction. Mexico, of course, will be most affected, but
the other so-called Latin-American countries will sympathize with
them beyond a doubt. Our information is direct on that point.
Now, gentlemen, I want to say further that we are not afraid of
the facts. If any sort of commission will take the time to go on
the ground and investigate local conditions in my State and go into
Latin America and talk with business men in Latin America—I
mean the natives down there who are engaged in business—and
there are lots of them—if you will go and talk to those people and
find out their sentiments, I think you will find that I have not overstated
 the ease as to the danger to our commerce. and I know, from