The Washington times., 1923-02-02
HUGHES MAY Be
STAB|L|ZER At
SANTIAGO
South American Republics Hope
for Attendance Of United
States Secretary.
By HARRY l.. ROGERS,
international News Service.

Announcement that Secretary of
State Hughes hopes to attend the
fifth Pan American conference,
which opens at Santiago, Chile, in
March, has resulted in greater OPP
timism among advocates of limi-
| tation of ornaments agreement for
the American Republics.
Though representatives Of the
twenty-one American nations MAX
ing up the Pan-American Union
voted unanimously to consider limi-
tation of ornaments at the confer
ence, and the subject was duly
placed on the agenda, skepticism
has been aroused by recent events
in Latin-America, and many diplo-
mats believe only the presence of
Hughes, with the weight of his
Washington conference achieve
ments behind him, can give the
conference chance of success.
Doubt Of this was based primarily
upon uneasiness as to the attitudes
of Brazil, Chile and Peru.
Brazil Fights Cut.
The. Brazilian representative at
the League of Nations recently OBJ
jected to plan of the League dis
armament commission providing for
reduction of the military establish
ments of all member nations. Bra
iii, through her representative, also
stated her unwillingness to agree
to the principles of the Washington
naval treaty. because it would limit
naval construction on the basis Of
her present strength and would pro-
hibit her from constructing naval
bases.
Brazil has no navy yards now
and would be prevented, it Is ar
gued, from ever supplying her needs
| In that direction If she assented to
the principle Of the Washington
conference treaties. On that basis,
it was stated. Brazil would be given
only two capital ships and some
minor vessels, which would be en-
tirely incommensurate with her
wealth. population and extensive
coast line.
Brazil is now planning the con-
struction of two naval bases, and
she recently signed an agreement
with the United States whereby a
naval commission. headed by Rear
Admiral Carl T. Vogelgesang. u. s.
NJ, with sixteen American naval Of
ficers and nineteen petty officers,
have been lent to the Brazilian
navy to assist in its reorganization.
Mission Criticized.
This American naval mission to
Brazil already has been the subject
of considerable caustic comment in
the press of Argentina, Chile and
other countries.
Tho movement to make the San
tiago conference primarily dis
armament conference" is under
stood to have received greatest inn
petus from Chile, regarded as prob
ably the best equipped, both as to
army and navy, of all the Latin
American countries. But Chile was
unusually hard hit by the economic
depression following the war!
The Brazilians. on the other
hand. look upon themselves as
somewhat isolated in South Amer
are of Portuguese and not Spanish
understood to be based upon the
theory that they should have a
strength equal to that of Argentina
and Chile combined, especially since
the two latter countries have shown
a consistent tendency to cooperate.
The second big obstacle to dis
armament agreement results from
the long standing dispute between
Chile and Peru over the Tacna-
africa boundary. Despite the nomi-
| nal agreement reached recently in
Washington, relations are still
strained, and Peru may refuse to
attend the Pan-American conference
at Santiago.
Latin-American diplomats, how
ever, believe that the presence of
Secretary Hughes at Santiago will
| tend to smooth out difficulties.