New-York tribune., 1919-01-27
Brazil's Recognition

bN the act OF announcing the appor-
tlonment of delegates to the peace con-
ference official recognition is given to
the admission of a new state to the
family of great powers 1t is signal
testimony to the growing Importance
OF Brazil in world affairs that the South
American republics allotment of three
delegates is as large as that accorded
any nation except the five most actively
engaged in the struggle against the Cen
trail Empires, namely, Great Britain.
France, Italy, Japan and the United
States, which have five each. Even Bel
gum, which is SO vitality interested in
the matters to be considered, has only
three voices at the peace table.
Historically, Brazil's recognition is of
interest because it is the first nation
south of the Equator to rise to a place
among the great powers. From more
material viewpoint it is significant be-
cause it is an acknowledgement of Brazil's
standing, of her very substantial par
tlclpatlon in the war; and, most notably
Of ALL it establishes in the New World
and the Old as the leading South Ameri
can nation the country that has most sie-
nally allied itself with the United States
in the building up of a Pan-American
entente This point has been emphasized
in an address by Senior Rodrigues Alvcs.
whose death, announced recently. pre-
vented his inauguration as President of
Rr9ZII tn u, Off,o l.,
last fall
No small part Of the close under
standing and cooperation between Brazil
and the United States was due to the
able diplomacy of Senior Domicio d.
Cana, for seven years Brazilian Ambas-
sador to the United States, who recent
ly returned to his own country to accent
the portfolio of Minister of FOREIGN Af-
fairs, position which makes him his
country's guide in the difficult period of
peace negotiations
The recognition of Brazil will serve
to refresh the minds Of many Americans
as to the fact that this South American
power has population of $4,000. 900
and that only four nations exceed it in
territorial extent, these being the British
Empire, the old Russia, China and the
United States. And it is only by includ
ing Alaska that the United States !,
enabled to hold place in this list.
Sympathy with the ideals that drew
the United States into the war led
Brazil to break with Germany and event
ually to declare that state of war
existed. She was the only South Amer
lean country actually to enter the war.
though several severed diplomatic rea-
tons.
Inspired by these principles. Brazil
following its declaration of war Octo-
Der rs, 1917, Immediately began to take
an active part in hostiites. Brazilian
warships took their place beside those
of the United States and England in
doing patrol duty and the Brazilian
army was rapidly preparing for overseas
duty when the armistce was signed. 1t
was reported that more than 200 600
Brazilian soldiers would have been ready
TO sail for France by the first of this
year There were already large num-
Der OF physicians and aviators at the
front. Very substantial aid was given
the Allies by Brazil's seizure of tiftv.
three German vessels which wero in
termed IN Brazilian ports Thirty of
these were ceded to France and made
welcome addition to the fleet of fond
carrying ships.