Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-20
Us. WOULD AID
south AMERICA
IN DISARMINC
Will Make no Move, How
ever Until Action is
Initiated There
FUNDS ARE SUPPLIED
l.. 6. Foots The Bills-Attendance of
Hughes at Brazilian Centennial
May Promote Limitation Idea.

Washington. April 2O.-This Gov
ernment would cordially, even enthu-
siaStically, support any move that
the greater of the Latin-Amerlean
republics might initiate among them
selves designed to limit, If not TO re-
'duce, existing armament.
But because of the delicacy of the
relationship between the North and
South Amrican nations it is unlikely
that the United States under other
than critical circumstances would ven
ture more than a friendly suggestion
i'm behalf of reduced budgets Tor
armies and navies in Brazil CnIle
and the Argentine
This, in q broao way, Is the attI-
tude of the Administration toward
military and naval competition that
has developed on the part Of the "A
B C." group of Latin nations, COM
petition that is in no pronounced
sense a menace to the peace or the
world at large, as this Government
sees it, but which is a menace to the
peace of that continent.
This hands off policy, however.
does not mean that the United
States has no direct interest or con-
Germ in what goes on in South
America. There is concern here IN
any situation which might disturb
the friendly relationship between
two or more of the South American
republics, as was shown when this
Government invited Chile and Peru
to send ENJOYS to Washington 10
settle, if possible, the long standing
boundary dispute.
Moreover. the South American
countries are doing more and more OF
their financing in the United States:
Since 1914, when practically all Of
Europe went to war, the sister re-
puhlicS to the south turned to this
country for their loHns and for a
large part of the imports.
And almost as soon as the armls-
tice was signed South American
Treasures began 70 feel out Aneri-
can bankers on the subject of LARGE
loans. Within the last Is months
enormous borrowing has been ac-
complished by these countries
through international banking houses
Chile has borrowed heavily, as has
Brazil. the Brazilian state of San
Paulo. Paraguay and, lastly, the Ar
gentine
Before these loans were consum-
mated the bankers submitted the
proposals to the State and Treasury
DEPARTMENTS for advice and guild
ance. and because the money to be
raised was to be applied for the most
part in internal improvements this
Government saw no reason why 1t
should be withheld.
1t is now suspected. however, that
some of the gold drawn from the
United States may have been divert
ed to military uses.( No question as
to the right of the borrowing ma
tiOns to use anv part of their funds
for increasing their armies or navleS
has been raised, but if that IS taking
place the Government in Washing
ton would undoubtedly feel a fresh
interest in the whole business.
And because of the conditions which
exist in South America it is Mt least
possible that Charles Evans Hughes,
Secretary of State, viii be persuaded
to attend in perSon the Brazilian
centennial celebration. heading the
American delegation which the Pres
ident will name.
The last three Presidents found
it desirable and profitable to send
their Secretaries of State to Latin
America. The first to go was Sec-
retary Root during the Roosevelt
administration He was followed bv
Secretary Knox, durnc the Taft
regime. and Secretarv Colby was sent
down by President Wilson.