The Washington herald., 1915-12-29
JEALOUSY May
prevent union
A. B. c. Countries Have Econ.
omic and Political Differ
ences Of Long Standing.
TWO ARE PRO-GERMAN
Argentina and Brazil Favor Teutons
in Commercial Relations. Which
U. S. Has Never Severed.

The ambition OF the Wilson admins
tration to bring about an offensive and
defensive alliance between the repub.
lies OF North. South and Central America
Is meeting decided snag In the economic
and political Jealousies OF the South
American states. The reassuring state
ments of President Wilson, his Mexican
policy of non-interference. and counsel
with South American states have elim-
mated all fear Of their powerful northern
neiehbor on the part of the southern re-
publics, but there remain antagonisms
among the southern states that despite
the urgence of the United States, give
little promise Of yielding to treatment
Secretary Lansing's statement on Mon.
day that: If the sovereignty of a Sis
ter republic is menaced from overseas
the power of the United States and.
hope and believe. the united power OF
the American republics. will constitute a
bulwark which will protect the indepen.
dence and integrity Of their neighbo,
from invasion or unjust aggression" wa.
direct appeal to Latin-America to con.
slider the formation OF q league Of west.
ern nations.
The statement was discussed generally
yesterday In that light. 1t found response
only among the weaker Of the Latin.
American republics. It found only polite
interest from representatives Of Argen.
tina and Brazil Tho national antaR.
onisms Of these two. together with Chile
are regarded as an almost insurmount.
able obstacle to the realization Of the
hope so expressed.
Two Nations Pro-German.
The United States wants to bring about
a practical pan-Americansim of the Mon
dnrfrfna hos -
the European war may very probably
md one or more OF the belligerents strik-
ing at the United States over the heads
or Latin-America. bringing about a test
OF the Monroe doctrine which this coun-
try Is In no position TO back up with mill
tary strength. 1t was hoped that through
the pan-American financial and scientific
congresses groundwork might be laid
for the acceptance in principle of an al
lance which would help Latin-America
to protect itself from European aggres-
sion. SO far there appears to be little
promise Of realizing this hope
Particularly In the cases of Argentina
and Brazil. an unwillingness to offer pos
sible offense to big customers Germany
and Great Britain-is an important con-
sideration. This is particularly true of
Germany. and both Argentina and Brazil
are strongly pro-German in their ma
tional tendencies. Until the United States
can build up a trade with these coun-
tries which will supplant the commercial
domination of Europe. they will not con-
slider a step which will put pan-Ameri-
canism into practical effect. At present
the trade Of the United States with these
countries is nil. relatively speaking.
OF course, the present congress, even
through official representatives. has no
power TO discuss the subject except In an
informal way. The subject. however. will
be brought up at the Fifth International
Pan-American Congress. which will be
called after the close of the European
war. At that congress a report by the
special neutrality committee Of the PAN
American board will be submitted deal
ing with the subject. Then the delegates
will have special instructions from their
governments to consider the proposal. II
was hoped that the groundwork for these
instructions would be laid through the
financial and scientific congresses of the
past year.