Evening star., 1927-11-07

tor of Peru, and he seems to be mas
teiing the situation absolutely.
In Bolivia, political chickering's are
retarding the progress of the country,
which, apart from this. is sufficiently
handicapped through its unfavorable
geographical and climatic conditions.
Still. Bolivia realizes how much Amer
lean assistance is needed.
The picture changes altogether
when one goes farther south. Chile,
as well as Argentina, is openly antag-
onistic to the United States. This an
taConism is not in any way aggres-
sive. A good deal will depend upon the
attitude of the United States il a
change of sentiment is to be brought
about
/ have spoken with one of the lead
ing American business men in Chile,
n resident there for many years. Per-
sonally he is disposed In most
friendly way toward the Chileans He
admires their energy, their discipline
and their sense of order, and he and
his family sincerely enjoy living
among them.
Chile DiSfrusts United States.
"In spite of this" he told me. 81
have been unable so far to establish
connections based on real confidence
and mutual sympathy. Chile frankly
istrusts the United States"
There are three reasons. First one
has to consider that the tremendous
mineral resources of Chile, copper.
iron. nitrate. etc. large part OF
which are being exploited by Ameri-
can interests. have up till now not
contributed to the development of the
country.
Chileans generally complain that
only the smallest part of their raw ma
terials which foreign interests, par
ticularly American capital, exploit are
being put through the finishing proc
ess in Chile. They also resent most
Americans coming for a certain mum.
ber of years only. making profits. and
then leaving the country. without
having made any permanent contribu
tion to its progress.
'They come to get rich and then
leave US fiat" is the way many Chill
cans express their feelings.
The experience Chileans have had
with British and German residents
is different Citizens of those nation
alities are being asSimilated more cas-
lily. and a large percentage are max
ing their homes in Chile permanent.
Economically. the important conse.
uuence of this process is that the
revenues proceeding out of the work
of these foreigners are kept in the
country. They can be used for It's
development, increasing the national
wealth.
It is true, on the other hand, that
a tremendous amount Of American
capital is being invested in Chile.
and that thousands of laborers are
employed by the American companies.
But it is pointed out by Chileans, that
all the big plants under American
management are providing their
employees with all the necessities
of life by importing them from
the United States. So the principal
aim of the present government. the
upbuilding of a home industry. is
not being furthered, and new resent
ment is the consequence.
Bitter Feeling Over Nicaragua.
The two other reasons for the an
tagonism of Chile are commonly
known, One is the bitter feeling en-
gendered by the American policy to-.
ward Mexico and Nicaragua. The
other is the breakup Of the plebisc1te
in Tacna-Arica.
American motives in each instance
have never been explained salts.
factorily to public opinion in South
America. This task is up to dipio.
mats and journalists.
In Argentina conditions are es-
sentially different. British capital
still holds a strong position through
widespread investments, particularly
in the railroads, which were built by
the British. Only a small percentage
Of railroad mileage in Argentina Is in
the hands of the government.
In Argentina. especially In its
metropolis, Buenos Aires, the casual
observer finds American influence
most strongly shown in retail trade.
There, even more than in Peru.
Bolivia and Chile, American auto
mobiles, electric signs, traffic signal
devices and radio apparatus can be
seen.
The American commercial traveller