The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-16
Why We Are Losing Out

1t was splendid advice which DR.. Eusebio Morales
Panaman delegate to the League of Nations assembly
at Geneva, gave the United States
We do not refer to his suggestion that the World
Court should decide whose word is law in the Panama
Canal Zone. The canal is the key to our national
defense and however vaguely we may have worded
the treaty which gives us control it, we must te
absolute master there.
We refer, rather to his side remarks growing out
of the above incident.
America" he said, needs to make real effort
to understand the mentality of the Latin American
peoples. American business men are going to want
big Central and South American markets before long
and they can not have markets without permanent
good will. The better Americans understand us and
our ways and we theirs the brighter the outlook will
be for our joint prosperity in the future.
IT have no intention of saying whether the United
States should or should not enter the League of
Nations But can tell you that If she were here she
could assume the leadership OF the whole Latin
American bloc and would be followed But she is not
here and we must seek elsewhere for leadership and
guidance"
Here sensible remarks. They can not
lightly be brushed aside like the question of who is
sovereign in the Canal Zone. Either Uncle Sam or
somebody else is going have the leadership of Latin
gains the ascendancy over that part of the world
that day will mark the beginning of a very real
to the security Of the United States It will
mark the moral, if not the physical breakdown of
one Of the corner stones of our exstence-he Monroe
Doctrine, already and called into question
in Latin America.
Nevertheless, we are even losing out as leader
Of the western world. At Geneva, where almost all
Latin America anoitaIJv
tional problems. not present AS Dr. Morales
points out not being there cannot take the leader
ship which would naturally fall our way At the same
time thoroughly mistaken diplomatic methods fol-
lowed by us throughout the Latin American republics
themselves, are bringing into dsrepute and dnin-
ishing prestige slowly but surely toward the
ishing point
theoretically and in the long run there are but
two ways for us to gain and hold the ascendancy in
the Americas Either we can do it by might and
conquest or we do it by cultivating the good will
Of the peoples.
Actually, however, we can do 1t IL only one way,
and that is via the good will way Force is taboo in
the hearts OF the American people. The only con-
quest open to us is the conquest trade and di-
plomacy can make for us. Good will is the only
ammunition that can do us any good or permanently
advance our cause.
DR.. Morales is right Americans need to make
real effort to understand the mentality of the Latin
American peoples and have them understand us in
turn. The Government at Washington is going to
have to revise its whole conception of diplomatic pro-
cedure to the south of us.
At present the idea seems to be to pick out man
who will go to Mexico or Central or South America
and fight and antagonize the government to which
he is accredited.
In the future men must be chosen who can, and
will make friends of both governments and peoples
Properly chosen. the latter brand of diplomat will
get results where their predecessors have scored 100
per cent failures.
Unquestionably the day of the good will diplomat
is here and vast political and economic consequence
depend upon just how quickly the Government at
Washington reorentates its policy accordingly.