The Indianapolis times., 1927-02-01
Argues Against
Using Big Stick
Nv William Philip Simms.

BY mail from Puerto Cabezas Nicaragua
United States leadership in Latin
America can be maintained in only
one of two Ways-by friendship or
by force. Which way will it choose?'
DR.. Juan B. Sacasa, Liberal presi'
dent of Nicaragua, now at war with
the Conservative president, Diaz, at
Managua, was talking to me at his
headquarters. Tall slender, dressed
in a gray-brown Palm Beach suit,
and wearing rimless eye glasses, he
might easily have been taken for an
American professor. The effect was
enhanced by his close'cropped gray
ing mustache and iron gray hair,
parted on the side. lie looks the
scholar.
Expecting no answer to his ques-
ton, he went on talking.
"a parent can whip his child Sc
verely and often, and through fear
secure obedience. But back of that
obedience is resentment, very little
love and sooner or later there is
trouble. Never is there any very
profitable cooperation between such
a parent and such child, and the
child gives a minimum of service.
His real friendship goes to others.
"On the other hand, If the parent
cultivates the companionship Of the
child and by marks of affection win
it's respect and love. cooperation is
spontaneous and both profit accord
ingly.
U. $. as big Brother"
THE relationship between the
United States and Nicaragua--and
all the other I.atin-American coun-
tries, great-.-as-Mntt as small--is of
course, hot quIEa1hat of parent and
child, butitis Similar. Big brother,
l believe, IS the term. But the illus
tration applies just the same. The
United States is powerful enough
to compel obedience, but in the long
run the interests of all concerned
would be far better served by pol.
icy of cooperation and friendship, all
around.
II quite understand it is a matter
even Of national security for the
United States to be the dominant
factor in the western hemisphere
and how, under the circumstances,
it would be dangerous were it to
stand by and permit some other
great, overseas power to take first
place in this half Of the world,
But l cannot admit that the
only way to maintain that leadership
is with a big stick.
For instance, why doesn't the
United States send some of its
bright, well.educated young men into
all the Latin-American countries to
live with them and study the psy-
chology of the peoples, their suscep-
tibilities, and the best means of get
ting on their good side?
Ignorant Expert
"As it IS, a young secretary of lie.
cation comes out stays a few
months or couple Of years, or so,
at most, moves in official circles all
the while, then returns to Washing
ton an expert He really knows
nothing about the people or their DO.
litical sentiment.
why should we not change pro-
fessors. Why should there not be
scholarships, totaling several hun
dred annually for Latin-American
boys in American universities?
You see I know, for I myself
graduated at Georgetown University
at Washington. l was an inferno
in New York hospital. l boarded
in a middle class American family,
and as a secretary Of legation at
Washington I mixed with the official
sets. l know Americans well.
know what is being done now is the
work of mere handful, not the
American people, so 1 do not hate
America for it. / know the people do
not know and / am sad, not angry.
Which is why l say intellectual
intercourse between the countries
should be fostered for all it is worth,
and in time it will be productive of
Immense good"