Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-27
RY WALLACE THOMPSON.

MEXICO ana kNaNdI Il 1OAli CNNA
corner of the lands to the South conn
echoes, even direct appeals and &C
cusations. against this coun1ry's policy
in Mexico and the Caribbean. In Ar
gentina, the most advanced OF TIL
nations which are loosely denom!nate,
Latin American" the newspaper
have been crowded with Cablegrams
articles and editorials against tn
United States policies: news bulletin
are issued with each development, anC
feeling (already fred. by certain unto
ward trade Incidents has run high.
Across the River Plate in Uruguay
the same effect is reported. Chilean:
are openly sarcastic. Peru. despite
oticial friendship. has difficulties witt
q rather heated public opinion. Cen
tral America IS milling like an unea sN
crowd. Even Guatemala. long the bes
friend OF the United States in Contra
America. and ona OF this country's
Stanchest allies IN all Pan-Americar
policies. IS frankly but not officially
critical OF Washington'S Mexican anC
Nicara guam moves. Cuba, 1t would ap
pear. doth protest bit too much tC
be reassuring. She is truly the friend
OF the United States. but her open
standing forth as champion conveys
TO some observers a feeling of a
greater seriousness in the situation
than has yet appeared.
Probably Not Permanent.
There is. however, probably no
solid permanence in the attitude OF
Latin America, but it is none the
less an actually. But why is it all
happening. and over conditions and
policies which are not new? This
question is being asked both here
IN Inff IN A yarfnn h.
not greatly changed, the United States
policy has not been altered basically
the officials Of this government are Ger,
tainly friendly. and from President
Coolidge down are anxious to help and
10 be fair, to be generous and under.
standing. Then. asks Washington
what is the reason for all the rumpus?
a good many reasons have been
advanced by Washington itself. One
historic one was Observation-Disclosures
bolshevism. The Department of State
has, since it's first unofficial Leak
on that subject, piped down perceptibly
on that key. 1t is now generally
conceded, by all whom there is any
need OF consulting. that the extent of
Mexican bolshevism in Latin America
Is that Mexico. dreaming of hegemony
there, has found the influence of the
United States potent barrier. Set.
ting about to undermine that influence,
Mexico has run into a much-heraIded
soviet drive I'm Latin America against
the alleged imperialism of the United
states: Mexico found herself-unex.
pectedly, her friends Aver-working in
the same direction as Moscow in Latin
America. and in a way with similar
Tools. The classic parallel is the
chinese generals who are using soviet
AID Tor their own nationalistic aspira.
tons. No, Mexican. bolshevism in
Latin America Is not responsible for
Latin Americas momentary attitude
toward the United States policies there
Propaganda by Mexico.
Propaganda? Perhaps. for Mexico
has done fine lot of propaganda for
herself in Central America, and to a
lesser extent In South America. She
mas set up wireless towers in every
capital OF Central America and sends
out each night from Mexico City an
ant-United States. proMexican wire.
less news service, which is given free
to every newspaper in Central Amer
lea. She prints special editions of
Mexico City newspapers, rotogravure
supplements and all, for each Central
American country. She establishes
'workingmen's libraries" in towns and
villages, all in the friendliest appear
ing spirit in the world. 1t is splendid
propaganda, whatever it's Interior oh.
ject, and doubtless has had consider.
able efect-a traveller spends a lot of
totally wasted time wishing Uncle Sam
had vision enough to do something
like 1t.
And propaganda for DR.. Juan Bau.
tista Sacasa, leader of the Liberal revo.
luton In Nicaragua-backed by Mexi.
yyoo OLl 70
and Is now its most troublesome enc.
my; his propaganda is one of the most
capable bits of press-agenting that was
ever done in propaganda-ridden Wash
ington. DIR. SacaSa's fellow physician,
DIR. T. Seydel Vaca, who usually prac-
tices in Germantown, Pa, has been
personally responsible for a large
share OF the present international
crisis over Nicaragua. With his able
lieutenant, Carrazo Morales of Gran
ada. Nicaragua, the faults and foibles
OF American diplomacy in Nicaragua
have been carefully segregated from
rhe mass Of constructive work and
dished up in" the most approved and
emctent propaganda fashion.
But propaganda alone does not ex-
plain the feeling throughout Latin
America regarding those Mexican and
Nicaraguan policies of Washington.
That must be sought in solid facts,
revealed-emphasized, il you wildly
recent developments.
Back to 1914 Treaty.
There is. first. the fact of the Mic.
araguan treaty of August s, 1914,
which gave the United States, in per.
petuity. complete proprietary rights
to the tnteroceanic canal route
through Nicaragua, and leases for 90
years on lands for naval bases on
islands of the Caribbean and on the
wonderful Bay of Fonseca, on the
Paciho-all for one payment Of So. 000,.
600. This treaty, quoted in the con.
gressional message OF President Cool
idge on january 10 last, was pre-
sented as one OF the chief justiflca
tions OF the sending of United States
warships and Marines to Nicaragua
after Mexican arms began to flow to
the aid OF DIR. Sacasa. It's reiteration
at this time had, however, another
effect besides justification OF the land
ing OF the Marines. 1t brought that
old treaty to the attention of Latin
America, almost for the first time
When It was signed, in the opening
days Of the Great War, 1t caused
not a ripple in the news, and for Il
years the document has continued &c
enjoy the same peaceful obscurtty
Now. reading it's text in the Coolidge
message, Latin Americans began Il
discuss Il, both in Washington and In
their own countries. One diplomat re
marked to me:
"why, President Diaz Of Nicaragua
In his former term as chief executive
and bv this treaty, sold his country
% the United States for $1,000. 000"
Next in order OF facts comes the
Mexican crisis reached last December
over the enforcement of the alier
hand and petroleum laws: this crisis