Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-15
IS REPUBLICS IN
LATIN COUNTRIES
BREAK WITH HUNS
Conditions in South America
and Central America
Now Most Favorable
to Allies.

Washington, Sept. l4,-There is
good war news from Central and
South America every day. Each re-
port is more encouraging. Latest in
formation is of special Importance. 1t
shows record for growing pan
American solidarity that is surprising
and carries significance that should
be heard all over the world. -.
What is the exact status OF the ~
Central and South American countries
in this world struggle?
At this hour the situation is as fol-
lows;
Situation Reviewed.
First-There are 20 independent re-
publics reaching from Cuba and Mex.
leo on the north to Argentina and
Chile on the south. OF these. IS, or
considerable majority, have actually,
in all official manner. broken relations
with Germany. These are, arranged
alphabetically: Bolivia, Brazil, Costa
RIGA, Cuba, Dominican republic, Ec-
uador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,
Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Uru-
quay. Although Paraguay has not
ofisially severed relations, its moral
attitude is such that it might almost
be classed in this list, which would
then make14.
Second-The following six coun-
tries can be classed as officially neu-
trail: Argentina, Chile, Colombia,
Mexico, Salvador and Venezuela, but
in strict terms Paraguay should be in
cluded, which would make seven, or
about onet-hird OF all the Latin
American governments.
Notwithstanding between
those which have broken Oft relations
and those which have actually de-
clared war in a formal manner against
Germany mine have actually entered
the arena of warfare alongside the
United States and the European al
lies. They are are: Brazil, Costa
RIGA, Cuba, Dominican republic. Qua
temala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua
and Panama. If the position taken
by Uruguay and Peru is equivalent to
declaration of war they would make
II which have declared war.
Fourth-Stated in other terms. it
can be said that thirds of the to-
tai area and three-ffths of the total
population of Latin America have
officially taken action in concert with
the United States and the European
allies.
Press Favors United States. .
Everybody, however, should be fair
in Judging the attitude of the seven
neutral countries. 1t is 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 the situation that the
: highest officials of each of the neutral
countries, in determining the policy
of their lands. are doing what they be-
leve conscientiously to be right. None
, of them, in their opinion, has had &C
tual official cause to declare war and
therefore their present attitude is JUS.
tilted. They do not deny the right OF
any country to act as it sees best, and
they contend that they have the same
right.
A careful scrutiny of the leading
newspapers in the neutral countries
shows that an overwhelming majority
of them are most friendly to the
United States and the European al
lies. Only very small minority are
what could be termed pro-central al
lies. 1t is also believed by many that
the so-called neutral countries are
able to be of greater service to the
United States and the European allies
by being neutral than by declaring
war. If they took the latter step
they would be involved in vast ex-
pense, in conservation of their own
supplies and in the shutting down on
what they can send to the United
States and the European allies. They
would also require large sums OF
money for armament and protection,
and these sums would necessarily
have to be supplied to a considerable
extent by the United States and the
European allies.