Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-11
GERMAN ASPIRATIONS
IN SOUTH AMERICA,


| writer, signing himself "Ignotus,"
contributes to the National Review an
article on the future of South America,
which will be read with considerable in
terest in the United States "Ignotus"
discusses the question whether there is
any need for armed preparation on the
part of the United States for the main
tenance of the Monroe doctrine, and it
| comes to very decided conclusion that
there is indeed very much need for it IL
the Monroe doctrine is really to be en-
/ forced.
He quotes statement by Professor
| Reinsch that the Russo German agree
ment concerning China contains Sc
cret clause referring to South America.
by which Russia promises to allow Ger
many completely free hand in follow
ing her own interests in developing the
natural resources of the South Ameri-
can continent
| There is more weight in what he says
! when he points to the immense influx of
| Italian immigrants into South America.
I Italy is pouring out 100000 emigrants
Eevery year. German emigration has
| died off of late and does not exceed 75,-
600 a year. But 1t is likely to Increase
| very rapidly in the near future, and he
haS reason to believe that this overflow
of the old world will find its way to
! South America. To this, of course, the
| United States would not object. 50 long
! as the Immigrants became loyal citi-
| zens of the South American republics.
| But. as "IgnotuS' points out, any South
American republic in which a million
| German settlers found themselves
might very speedily cease to be South
american and become a German state.
which might throw itself into the arms
| of the German empire.
Nothing is more probable than that
| We shall have something very much re-
sembling the South African "Outland-
| er" problem in more than one South
lSsAmerican state. The Spanish Ameri-
| cans, say of Venezuela. are not by any
means as tough as the Beers, and If
there were million Germans in Vene-
zuela there is little doubt that they
would dominate the country. To this
the advocates OF the Monroe doctrine
would make no objection SO long as the
| German rulers of Venezuela maintained
the state under the republican flag. But
| who can say. in view of the strong ten
dency Of men of every race to rally
round common center, how long would
| it be before Greater Germany in South
America would ally itself with the
lfatherland. "IgnotuS' thinks that
nothing could prevent them, unless the
United States prepared to wage a great
war not only with Germany and Italy,
but-wilat would be much more serious
with the immense German and Italian
communities which would by that time
| have sprung up in South America. 1t
Is interesting to follow his argument.
He says that the population of South
America is less than six per square
mile. There are probably not more than
| 100000 600 people on the whole continent.
But, according to good authority, about
one-third Of South America, if not more,
is suited to white colonists, and pos
sessed not only of a temperate climate.
but of immense stores of mineral
wealth. Great areas of open country lie
| unoccupied, crying for settlers. The
country is traversed by superb water
ways, while immense mountain ranges
run the whole length of the continent.
supplying ineNhaustible resources of
water power. Now. says "Ignotus," if
the United States would undertake to
nent they might say Hands off" But
are. they to play the part of the dog in
the manger, and say that, while they
, absolutely refuse to bear the burden of
civilizing the southern continent, they
Will refuse at the point of the sword to
give permission to European nations to
| undertake the task?
Revolutions are endemic in the north
or property is safe. Not only Is civil
war chronic, but the republics are al
ways fighting among themselves. Hence
they lack both capital and comunica-
tons. Their magnificent waterways
are scarcely utilized. roads hardly exist,
and the three northwestern states of
South America, with an area of more
than third of the United States.
have not 1000 miles of railways. Three
fourths of the population are illiterate,
and in short the whole continent pre-
sents just that spectacle of immense re-
sources utterly wasted which is calcu-
lated to tempt civilized powers to take
their affairs in hand. Is 1t possible,
asks "Ignotus, or probable. that Ger
many will consent to be excluded for all
time from just the very territory which
she lacks? Further. Is 1t in conSOnance
with the eternal laws of progress that
she would be thus excluded? Ignotus"
thinks that the kaiser will be able with
tact and judgment, to put 100000 Ger
mars a yeal into that part of South
America which experts have ascertain
ed to be most suitable for white ccloni-
cation and most thinly peopled. He
thinks, too that German statesman
ship may be counted on to make all rea
sonable endeavor to secure its ends by
peaceful methods; but the time may
come when the German settlers in such
a country as Venezuela will take adyan-