El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-11-18
SOUTH AMERICANS ASSUME TO SAY
WHAT HARDING OUGHT TO Do

TELEGRAPHIC dismissal By the Peruvian government Of
The chief Of the Peruvian mission at the Geneva
fens Of the league Of nations, account Of prudent
utencea about the probable United States policy did not
prevent the Brazilian representative at the conference from
making declarations equally imprudent" the next day
The Peruvian sought newspaper outlet for his
to what the United States ought to do and probably
would DO The BraEilan gave his views to the public
through the Havas agency the European gathering
organization corresponding to the Associated Press IN
America
The Brazilian said he was Convinced that the United
States would enter the league He said the example and
t attitude Of the South American nations would II his
opinion, determine the policy Of presdent-eect Harding
One who has followed the political course Of South
American nations their international relations during
the last 20 years need not be surprised at the grow
ing disposition o. those nations first to oppose the United
States and second to attempt to influence United States
International policy.
In Of ms campaign speeches Franklin Roosevelt
Teysd the impression that Re regarded the Central and
South American republics and West Indian countries as
oet boroughs1 Of the United States; that the United
States government had their peHary powers Of attorney to
cast heH ballots IN the assembly Of the league Of nations
He afterwards denied that he intended to convey such
meaning but the Associated Press report Of his speech was
usFs- withdraw OF correction asked.
Nothing could be further from the truth than to think
that the United States has any strings the Latin
American nations The Herald has several times expressed
its conviction that far from being blockp IN favor Of
United States foreign policies America would be more
likely to be Hblockn against the United States the
assembly Of the league in case the United States were
member.
Leading rsvspaps7s Of Buenos Aires have lately sz-
pressed very freely about the Monroe doctrine
and the league. They say effect that the Meuros doc
Of the strongest arguments Why they should
enter the eagus not to protect the doctrine, but rather to
neutraEzs IT,
Te people Of the United States need not deceive them
selves mo thinking that the Monroe doctrine all
American policy. On the contrary It Is United States
policy, and is opposed by many not most Of the Latin
American nations at least in the form that the doctrine
takes n the minds Of most American exponentS and
mentator5
South America not closely bound to the United States
IN any way Until recently the United States had slight
contact With those countries. There direct mall
cable passenger freight service. It necessary in
New York 20 take ship for Europe and take British OF
Gean ship to cross the Atlantic second time and
1t destination Sane with the cables, and the mails
South American finance and commerce were largely /
handled through Europa South America did not look upon
the United States a mentor OF a guide,
chosen friend South Americans going abroad" did not
70 the United States, but vent to France By first
choice OF to Spain England, Germany, OK Italy.
South Americans received their Literary and artistic IN
spration from FTauoe- which they called thsr soul
m0thsr7 Frazos supplied their higher education They
learned diplomacy in France In France they sought their
advanced military training Spain tried IN vain bring
her prodiEal children back to the old home.
Commercially and financially South Americans received
her tuteags in Germany and England, not IN the United
States. They seldom American flag, but they knew
an Europe commercially They knew European goods bet
ter than they knew American goods.
Conditions have changed IN degree since the Euro
pean changed al the traffic lines and since began
70 extend direct snip and cable lines. But te think
that tie habits and intellectual and spiritual preferences Of