The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-17
POlI,er
Extent German Influence
in South America.

As for the Latin countries on this
side of the Atlantic. the problem is
manifold. Each of these nations has
her definite and individual reasons for
declaring war against Germany But
a peculiar fact strikes the observer
upon consideration OF recent events;
the first South American republics to
break relations with Germany have
been those where the Teutonic element
is in the majority. Excepting Chile
| and Argentina, where this element is
| overwhelming. few regions of the
American continent are SO thick1y pop
| ulated with Germans as those Of south
ern Brazil and Uruguay. Yet these
two nations were among the first to
follow the example Of the United States
and enter the worlds fight for democ-
| racy. This peculiar fact speaks for
| itself.
In Brazil alone. over half q million
Germans are established, and their col
| onies occupy most Of the provinces Of
Rio Grande do Sui and Santa Catarina.
1t Is significant that all through these
provinces German Is spoken exclusive
1y, in spite of the efforts Of the Bra
lillian government to conquer the cnor-
nous influence Of the Tcutons over
/ that part of the country. The native
population has never sympathized with
them and the colonists have not made
the slightest effort to assimilate Bra
lillian customs or even language.
rather behaving themselves as IL the
territory they occupy was nothing but
part of the German empire. The re-
suit has been an ever-increasing Bra
lillian dislike for them. quickly brought
to crisis by the affronts made by
Germany against the Brazilian people
and the sinking Of several Brazilian
ships.
Chile. having n German population
of some 10000. Is In n peculiar position.
The German element Is so powerful it
has a real influence over the political
attitude Of the nation. The bulk of
the governing classes is of German ex-
traction, and any move against the
central powers would have little sup
port among the Chileans.
Argentine, with German population
OF nearly 100000, does not have as
much to fear from the Teutonic in
triguc as Chile or Brazil. The dis
graceful activities Of that diplomat of
"spurlos versenkt" fame and the reve-
lations made by the American state
department some time ago have
stamped out all Argentine tendencies
to favor the central powers, but Ar
bcntine will not declare war on them,
at least for the present, owing to her
own delicate internal problems. She
was badly hit by the advent of the
European war and she Is yet far from
recovering from the financial difficult
ties into which she was plunged at the
beginning of the conflict. Bolivia,
Guatemala. Honduras and Nicaragua
have broken relations with Germany.
as have Haiti, Santo Domingo and
Uruguay, where the Teutonic element
Is also prevalent.
1t would be an error to belittIe the
Importance of the Central American
republics as factors of war. 1t is
enough to consider that the German
interests there represent some $780,
100000 marks. But the internal prob
lens in these countries are so compli-
Gated that they afford poor basis for
speculation regarding the probability
OF the Central American republics
making definite stand in the worlds
conflict. One thing Is certain, how
ever: German money and German
intrigue are at the bottom of the OBJ
vious restlessness characterizing re-
cent political events in Central Amer
cha and also in Venezuela, where Teu-
ton influence seems omnipotent.-
Francis j. Aria in Leslies.