New-York tribune., 1908-07-05
IN DEFENCE OF BRAZIL.
Newspaper Stories Which Ihe
Tribune Has already Condemned.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: II is extremely sad that some Oh tne <>ii'i
90, press are now showing true Ignorance Oh
politcal affairs regarding foreign countries espe
ciallv Latin American republics. Among those
nations 1t is universally known that bfa]h 10 'io
leading one. and in spite OF Argentina she Soi
trols the largest interests In the southern eoH
tinent
T, ho,,ar., seems to me that some of the press
writer's fail to recognize the true conditions ana
are consequently filling their daily columns WIN
certain infantile views and ridiculous preoiclcn,
in connection with the aim OF our naval plahS -"O
internal policies
1t is lamentable that the so-called yelio" press
bere take advantage Of any red flames OF scanoai
aiming TO awake, among credulous peopie, a.
kinds of sensations and comments upon is 4oAe
winded and empty opinions. but am snfp'iseo
to see some of the reputable being led SO far asray
from the truth.
There Is no reason at all for such ignorance OF
our political life. history and even modern plans
of defence-for Brazil in the near future VIII not
be less important republican organism thah
yours, either from the viewpoint or her iniluehee
or weight in public affairs. She controls vast
lands larger than those of your Republic, pos
sessing territory crossed by the most gisdhtlc
rivers and by having almost all climates she
also has the richest forests, which promise almost
unlimited wealth.
Our political life has not been SO sterile ana
poor as many mediocre nations still exlsons III
the world 1t is a regrettable lack of learning
that accounts for the failure to recognize our
preponderance In diplomacy upon some more IA
vorably considered nations.
DESPITE the victories in the Alabama case, set
tied by council Of arbtrators in the Geneva
court to which belonged the Brazilian diplomat
Viscount Itajuba the presidency held at the "ash-
neton-American court by another Brazilian, baron
de Arnos and the uninterrupted presidency on four
arbitration committees. assembled In Santiago
Chilli with the object of settling European claims
against the same held by three learned Brazllan
counselIors, it yet further necessary that our
distinguished first delegate at the Hague confer
ence last year. DR.. Ruy Barbosa, in a most con-
vincing and powerful speech in behalf Of the equal
ity Of sovereign states a basis Tor an intendeu
court of arbitration should illustrate his assertions
by recolIecting all those points Of our diplomatic
missions so it that the easy beiiet must
have relied upon few silly and offensive phrases
lent us by LonIons chief newspaper The Times
which have been recorded wide proof OF an
extreme ignorance and diseourtesy-
Hence the revelation to the whole world or What
was being considered a non-existence, and the most
prominent position at The Hague was then taken
by our admired representative Hence, too, the
realizatio the moral value of our notable Nll-
lister for Foreign Affairs, Baron de Rio-Branco.
But at the present time somt extemporaneous IN
triguing gossps aroused by the Argentine people
in ther understandable jealousy for Brazil as regards
the building of many warships for herself give
opportunity newspaper writers Tor oeheVlns
that nv republic is screen for Japan and
for some out-of- place frights and appeals to the
British government.
No harm at all to us can ultimately come from
such attacks, and it only opened up for our repre-
sentative fair chance for enviable revelation
before that selected assembly.
1 am, therefore, compelled to state emphaticaily
that no Brazilian for anybodys either teine-
rarious or childish Judgment. and that, instead OF
harm only trife comes TO the light of reality
that is that they are, the contrary of what
should be expected from American citizens, SEEM
ing frightened so proving themselves weak, almost
shivering to the japanese ghost by the supposed
unfailing struggle with it,
We will certainly go ahead-no doubt about 1t
with our independent plans of our own politics and
increasing our naval fleet, whatever may be the
comments of newspapers.
CARLOS DE VASCONCELLOS.