The sun., 1919-07-21
ARGENTINA TURNS
TOWARD ALLIES
New Foreign Policy Indicated
by Prompt Acceptance of
League Of Nations.
GERMAN TREND HALTs
Rivalry for Brazil Believed to
Have Been One Cause
for Change.
ny osGooD HARDY, NJ. A.

Written especially for the Latin Amert-
can Section Of THE SUN.
The promptness with which the Ar
sentine Government accepted the invi-
tation to join the League OF Nations is
being viewed with considerable Spec
ulative interest by those who have fol-
lowed ArEentina's foreign policy during
the war From the very beginning she
ADOPTED a policy OF neutrality. but I'M
fortunately her efforts achieved results
very similar to those of the man who
stands so straight that he leans over
backward. In Argentinas case the
leaning was without question toward
the Teuton.c Powers.
The causes for this have been dis
cussed time out of mind the most char.
table view OF the whole matter is that
the present administration with its de-
eided policy OF Argentina for the Ar
gentinos' had viewed with alarm and
Jealousy the prcdominating influence ex-
ercised in Argehtina's Industrial life by
Great Britain and France and was,
therefore, not unwilling to see these ma
lions come cropper. Other reasons
less charitable have been advanced, but
or another Argentina bet on Germany,
end now that 1t turns out that she bet
on the wrong entry she Is doing her
best to make the world believe that in
reality she was pro-Ally all the time.
In particular is she inspired In this at
tempt by her feeling of rivalry for Bra
I'll, her powerful neighbor on the north.
Although surpassed by Brazil in both
area and population, Argentina was con-
hat h. 81.
tant country because of her superior in
dustrial and commercial development.
Her railroad mileage and foreign trade
were both greater than those Of Brazil.
European investments in Argentina wero
also much larger than in Brazil The
same Is true to-day, but Brazil, by join
ing herself actively with the Allies, has
achieved a prestige in world affairs
which Is viewed with no small dis
pleasre by her southern rival. Brazil Is
one of the signatories OF the Peace
Treaty, her President has been received
with marked courtesy and friendliness
In his visit to Europe and the United
States. while the respect for Argentina.
which had been built up among these ma
lions by such distinguished and able
diplomats rs DR.. Naon, has to very
material degree been lessened.
1t is to be hoped, however. that Ar
change of heart, and especially is it so
from the standpoint of or commercial
relations with Argentina Before the
war We were In a sense trade rivals.
Our chief exports were raw products.
and as far as they were made UP OF
meats and cereals we were IN active
competition with her.
To-day this is being changed. and in
the very near future we too will be active
purchasers of her food products On
the other hand, Argentina, possessing
scanty mineral resources and small In
dustrial population. must for many
years to come purchase most Of her man
ufactured goods abroad. Due to the
exigencies OF the war. we are now SELL
ing more goods to Argentina than is any
other country, and although the Euro
pean nations are making every effort to
regain their lost trade there Is no ques-
tons but that as we buy more Oh AT
gentina's raw materials her purchases OF
manufactured articles from us Will con-
tinue to increase.