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The spurs toward unification, possibly as a democratic republic instead of a federation of autonomous states, have dug deeper & deeper since World War II. The U.S. has used shrewdness, good works and good will to improve its Central American relations. No longer merely a place where bananas come from, Central America has great strategic importance, not only for naval and air bases but as the only land bridge to the vital Panama Canal. More than anything else in past history, the Pan American Highway, being rushed to completion at a cost of $80,000,000 in Central America alone, has brought the republics together. Where present roads and rails run east and west from ocean to ocean, the new highway will tie them all up with a north-south route facilitating trade and making boundaries less important.
Hemisphere defense indicates the use of armies against a common enemy instead of against neighboring states or a nation's own people. It might be too much to expect that a conference would result in unity but basically it is a good idea.