Me Lz DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN MEXICAN AFFAIRS DIVISION OF LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS int XICANA JAN 1979 Department of Stara MEMORANDÊM February 15 1918 DEC 20 1919 Department of State Dear Mr. Lansing: 7813 OMEMORANDUM AND ARGUMENTS RELATING TO CONSTRUCTIVE STEPS WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN IN CENTRAL AMERICA BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE EUROPEAN WAR. 55 INDEX DURCAU ARCH The total trade of Cuba with the United States just prior to the end of the Spanish rule over that island (1897) amounted to about twenty seven million dollars per annum.
During the decade following the termination of our war with Spain the island of Cuba, guided by Amer led ican influence, increased her trade with us by leaps and bounds and brought it to the startling total in 1917 of some thing over four hundred and thirty million dollars.
This unprecedented development of Cuba may serve as an illustration of what probably would take place in the Central American countries provided this Government extended to them aid of a practical character as it did to Cuba.
It must be apparent to those familiar with the political situations in the various Central American countries that it