Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-15
Majority of Central and
South American Countries
, Back United States.
Thirteen Have Broken ReIa-
tons With Germany, Seven
Others Are Neutral.
BY JOHN BARRETT,
Director General o. Pan-American
MON.

3. There is good war news from Central
and South America every day. Each
reports more encouraging than the
one before it. The latest information
is of special Importance. 1t shows a
record for growing pan-.Amerlean
solidarity that is surprising. 1t carries
a Significance that should be heard all
over the world.
Constantly l am asked in letters and
kilograms. not only from all parts of
TIE United States and from the allied
nations of Europe, but from Latin
America: What is the exact status of
the twenty Central and South Ameri-
can countries in this world struggle?"
Without commenting upon the wis
dom of each nations action. it is per-
mitted for me. in answer. to give a
summary of the actual facts. At this
hour the situation is as follows:
How They Align.
First. There are twenty independent
republics reaching from Cuba and
Mexico on the north to Argentina and
Chile on the south. OF these, thirteen,
or a considerable majority. have ac-
tually. in an official manner, broken
relations with Germany. These are. ar
ranged alpha Bolivia, Brazil.
Costa Rica. Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,
Nicaragua. Panama, Peru and Cru-
quay. Although Paraguay has not of
ficially severed relations, her moral
attitude is such that she might almost
be classed in this list, which would
then make fourteen.
Second. The following six countries
can be classed as officially neutral: Ar
Kentina, Chile. Colombia. Mexico. Sal
vador and Venezuela; but in strict
terms Paraguay should be included,
which would make seven. or about
one-third of all the Latin American
governments.
Third. Differentiating between those
which have broken off relations and
those which have actually declared
war in a formal manner against Ger
many, we find that nine have actually
entered the arena of warfare along
side the United States and the Eu-
ropean allies. They are: Brazil. Costa
Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic. Qua
tAu,ala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua
ana Panama There are some mat CON
tend that the position taken by Cru-
1uay and Peru is equivalent to a
declaration of war, but as their action
has not been SO regarded by Germany
they are still to be clasSed as having
only broken relations. II they were
CONSIDERED as ms dSNasAAis AiN>A
the conflict they would make the
number eleven which have declared
war. .
Fourth. Stated in other terms. it
can be said that two-thirds OF the
total area and three-fifths of the total
population of Latin America have
officially taken action in concert with
the United States and the European
allies This means that out OF the
nine millions of square miles or taelh
American territory and total pop
ulation of ninety millions six NIL
lions of square miles and nearly nifty
five millions of people are aligned
on the side Of the United States and
the European allies.
Must Judge Fairly.
Everybody. however. should be fair
IN Judging the attitude of the seven
neutral countries. 1t is, In my
opinion. unjust TO say that they are
against the United States, or that
they are pro-central allies. 1t is the
honest belief of those familiar with
ShA situation that the highest officials