The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20

ciples OF democracy and civilization
which she represents. All felt, too,
that this war was test of the Monroe
Doctrine, and nearly all, by their SEN
timent II not by their official action,
stood for its sanctity and perma-
hence.
Nor was this futile. The usefulness
of South America in providing, with
the United States and Canada, a solid
American front against the Teutonic
allies, surely had its psychological ef-
feet upon the German people. and
while Latin America did not send
armies to European fighting lines she
stood ready to do SO. Had the war
lasted two years longer I believe her
soldiers would have been upon the
European fronts. and within five years
she could have furnished many mill
ions OF good fighters.
"As il was. she gave without stint Of
necessary material, utilizing all her
forces OF capital and labor for the pur-
pose. The neutral South American
countries worked as hard to do this 8
those did which had declared helliger-
ency. And all this was accomplished
population in South America and al
most rs great a German drive to pro-
duce opposite results as was made dur
ing the early months Of the war in the
United States.
"Co-service in the war has led to
new Camaraderie between North and
South America. The war has done more
to unity the Continent than anything
has done since the declaration OF the
Monroe Doctrine, nearly century
ago In various South American CEN
tres are groups and newspapers which
openly are hostile to the United States,
but believe know the general senti-
ment OF the Continent, and I believe
their influence to be absolutely negli-
gible.
THE United States has not been in
nocent of errors in dealing with the
nations to the south OF her. Some
times that which she has done has
been actually unfair; sometimes that
which she has done has been mis-
understood; but In the main she has
been fair and in the main there have
been few Misunderstanding And
there Is no question that throughout
both Latin America and the United
States at the present moment grows
great and rapidly dominating senti-
ment of understanding and apprecia-
ton, each for all the others, which is
sure to animate and stimulate all to-
ward firm friendship for the future.
Lest it should be mistakenly sup
posed that 1 have indicated that too
little credit has been given in Latin
America to the wonderful achievements
Of England, France. Belgium, italy
and the other European Allies in the
war, and too much to the United
States, let me say that the speeches
of Latin American statesmen, the
writings of authors and journalists
and other expressions of popular feel
ing in Latin America always voiced
admiration of the wonderful battle
against odds long made by the Allies
fully approaching the grandeur OF
their struggle for democracy before
the United States entered the war at
all. Latin America from Mexico TO
the Argentine, was fully pro-Aily in its
sentiment prior TO April. 1917. but il
took the entrance OF the United States
into the struggle to make these Coun-
tries understand that their future and
fate were as much at stake upon the
outcome OF the war as those OF the
Allies.
THE present impulse toward pro-
noting friendly and profitable rela-
tionships between the United States
and Latin America by no means is a
novelty.
Trade Was Growing before War.
THE strides OF progress which
trade between Latin America and the
United States was making prior to
the war are not generally understood.
"In the fiscal year previous to the
outbreak of the war American trade
led that of Germany in fifteen Of the
twenty Latin American countries Be
tween that OF the United States and
Germany came that Of the United
Kingdom. which also was growing
The actual totals in round figures for
that fiscal year were: United States,
$500 000.0 900; United Kingdom, $780,
600 900, and Germany, $500, 900, 900.
Trade Of the United States in
Latin America almost had doubled
during the twelve years before tac
war In the fiscal year of l9l7-lS taC
figures had grown. To sl,750 900 900,
or an increase OF billion over the
1885, figures, although, OF course,