The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-04
The President and Latin America

cone thousand marines to Nicaragua" reads a
headline.
Heartbreaking enough it would be at any time,
from whatever angle you view it, the fighting in
Nicaragua at this particular moment becomes a
doubly regrettable tragedy.
Just one week from next Monday Jan. 16, at
Havana Cuba the republics of the western world Will
meet in a sixth Pan-Amercan congress to discuss
their relations with one another-the United States
Mexico the countries of Central and South America
and the Caribbean Sea.
Even now President Coolidge is at work on the
speech which he intends to deliver at the opening
Of this highly important conference There, it is I'M
derstood, he will stress good intentions toward
our weaker neighbors to the south in thoroughly
sincere effort to stem the tide OF fear and suspicion
now on the rise against us.
And but for the case of Nicaragua, the President
would doubtless be able to return from Havana with
the feeling that the prospect never brighter for
a real and sympathetic understanding between the
United States and Latin America. His recent per-
sonal efforts in this direction have not been lost on
the people OF that part of the world They were quick
to sense his relegaton of the laundering Secretary OF
State Kellogg to a back seat and his apparent de-
termination to take hand in Latin American az
fairs himself His quick acceptance Of the resgna-
ton Of the nept Ambassador Sheffield; his appoint
nlent or the human ana capaJ4e OWISLG N4OLIO" w
Mexico in Shefhelds place followed by Lindbergh's
goodwill fight his selection of alstar delegation
to represent the United States at Havana; and his
decision to rupture all presidential precedent and
Journey to C0ba in person to make the opening adj
DRESS all and singly meant to Latin Americans that
the American President is frankly, almost eagerly,
holding out his hand in friendship
Now bloody fighting has broken out in Nicaragua.
Heavy reinforcements will be pouring into that tiny
republic at the very moment the President rises to
speak at Havana. Nor will any flow of defensive
oratory or printers ink however abundant, serve to
improve the situation for him down there 1t isn't
what we think that matters but what Latin Amer
leans think and they already bitterly hostile to
suspicious Of and alarmed by, what they regard as
the entertainments of "the colossus Of the north"
The dsagreeable truth is that through his amazing
ignorance of Latin American temperament, Secretary
of State Kellogg has put both the American people
and their President in very nasty hole Retalatory
slaughter of more Ncaraguans will surely give rise to
new storm of resentment against us throughout
Latin America while just certainly withdrawal
under fire would send prestige down to the van
ishing point the world over. We lose no matter
what we do.
And so it comes about that President Coolidges
praseworthy efforts to save what little Secretary KEEL
logg left of the situation may be nulhed by the be-
lated but inevitable consequences Of this same mans
folly.
For what it matter how sincere President Cool
idge and distinguished array Of delegates may be
at Havana If their Latin American audience listens to
their words with eye on Nicaragua and its tongue
In it's cheek?