In the field of international relations the President's efforts were continually hampered by the growing feeling of isolation in the country. The results of the Pan-American Conference at Buenos Aires were generally supported for unity of the Western Hemisphere has always been closely allied with isolation beliefs. George Washington warned against ical entanglements with Europe.
oil ce-operation with Latin America, and financial and commercial ce-operation with the rest of the world appeared to be the limit to which public opinion would go.
When the President attempted to secure discretionary authority in the Neutrality Act so that the United States would be able to adjust its policies in such a way that they would not hamper European efforts at collective security he met defeat. During an interval in the Court debate a Neutrality Act was passed insisting that aggressor and victim in a war must be treated alike though the decision on what constituted war and when "cash and carry" provisions of the act should apply were left to the President's discretion.
The President however, used his authority to negotiate trade agreements by cutting tariffs up to 50 per cent. with success and on November 18 the British Prime Minister and Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, were able to announce that the negotiation of an Anglo-American agreement was contemplated. Informal conversations during the year had shown that a substantial basis for agreement existed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.