The Washington times., 1923-02-28
u. s. IS MAKING
FRIENDS OF
LATINS
Steals March on Britain While
Latter Is Occupied With
Near East.
By HARRY l.. ROGERS,
International News Service.

The United States has stolen a
march on Great Britain in Latin
America.
While the London government has
been intensely occupied with prob
lens in the Near East and in the
Ruhr, the Washington Administra-
ton steadily has been mending it's
fences in the republics to the south.
and today officials are laughing up
their sleeves as reports pour in
both from England and South Amer
lea showing that Britain is just
coming to a realization Of the true
state of affairs.
This Government, however, Is
not resting on its oars. The capac-
ity of British statesmen to regain
lost prestige for their country is ap-
preciated too deeply for American
officials to believe the position Of
the United States can be maintained
without a struggle. To a very con-
siderable extent this explains the
activity Of the Harding AdminiAtra-
ton In arranging the various con-
ferences of Latin-American delegates
held in Washington recently. 1t also
+ explains the recent visit OF Secre-
tary OF State Hughes to Rio de
Janeiro.
Hughes To Visit Rio.
The determination Of Secretary
Hughes 70 include Rio de Janeiro in
his itinerary was almost an eleventh
hour decision. While it is true the
official invitation of the Brazilian
President was received only a few
-.ours before announcement of the
ACCEPTANCE It must be remembered
that governmental invitations are
;eldom proffered until there is rea-
unable certainty of acceptance, and
~ was known that Hughes at first
ad felt his recent visit to the Rio
lie Janeiro centennial was all that
ourtesy required for the present, 50
ar ais Brazil was concerned.
At any rate, the change In
hughes plans was practically CO.
Incident with receipt here from
london OF the report made by Col.
II. w. G.. Cole, Of the department
IF overseas trade, who headed the
British mission to the Brazilian
centenary.
After dwelling on the success of
he British mission and the ex-
remedy favorable impression Gre
ated by the presence in the harbor
II the. British dreadnoughts Hood
IN earnest warning against pene-
ration" by the United States.
with regard to the British Sec
ton at the exhibition" says the
summary OF Colonel Coles report.
''notwitt standing the adverse ex-
change the actual business result
ing had been a great deal more
than was originally anticipated.
The main point gained, however,
was that the mission, together with
the excellent impression created by
the visit Of the Hood and the Re.
pulse, comprising the British naval
contingent. had done great deal
to engender good feeling and to
restore our prestige in Brazil.
Britain 'PreOccupied."
This important factor, together
with q genuine feeling of friend
ship toward the whole British en-
pire, which existed in the new
Brazilian government, constituted
conditions most favorable for the
development Of our interests in
that vast country. There was every
need for this. as, owing to our pre-
occupations during the war, the re-
sponsibility for advising Brazil in
naval matters had passed to the
United States and, in regard to the
army, to France.
Similarly" Colonel Cole pointed
out, there had been an intensive
commercial penetration Of Brazil by
the United States during the war
period. In his opinion, every posi-
bic step should be taken to protect
our existing interests and to create
new ones, not only in Brazil but
throughout the whole Of South
A