Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-17
Europe May Oppose
Food Ship Immunity
BY DREW PEARSON.

When an international conference Ia
called to consider President Hoover's
proposal to make food ships immune
from attack during war, 1t will probably
be found that the world Is divided, with
the United States and Latin American
countries favorins immunity and the
nations of Europe favoring rigorous
blockade against all shipping.
This Is the deduction drawn from
expressions by members of the diplo-
matte corps, who have probably been
more interested in President Hoover's
proposal, made last week, than any
other recent White House pronounce
Iment.
The reason for this split in the atti-
tude of the Western and Eastern Henri
spheres Is easy to understand. The
United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile
and practically all the other countries
Of Latin America are great exporters OF
food. From Argentina comes most OF
the meat for the populous centers of
Western Europe as well as large part
of their wheat supply. Brazil could not
live without exporting coffee, while it
also sells large quantities OF meat and
tropical fruits.
Chile has developed O fruit trade
which now rivals North American fruits
in the markets of Europe. while Gen.
tral Americas chief income Is from It's
sales Of tropical foods.
X
During the World War all of these
countries were lined up with the United
States in opposing the British blockade
against neutral merchant shipping.
Even the Pan-American Union, which
had carefully avoided action on any
political problems In the past, went
into the question Of freedom Of the
seas, and the ENJOYS of Latin American
countries held almost daily conferences
with the State Department. There has
been nothing in recent years which so
welded the usually none too congenial
poles of pan-Americanism,
The nations of Europe, on the other
hand, count upon the economic boy
colt as the chief weapon of the League
of Nations and, according to diplomatic
reaction here, Europe would be unal-
terably opposed to President Hoover'S
proposal regarding food ships.
1t Is this threat Of an economic boy
colt held over the heads of the smaller
nations Of Europe by Great Britain and
France that has been materially re-
sponsible for keeping the peace OF the
Continent.
President Hoover It is now known,
talked over his plan of food ship i'm
munity with Ramsay Macdonald when
the latter was visiting him at his Rapi-
dan camp. A summary of their con-
verSations was cabled to the Labor
cabinet in London, and as result 1t Is
reliably reported that Philip Snowden,
chancellor of the exchequer, called the
prime minister over the transatlantic
telephone and threatened to resign
should he agree with President Hoover
on any such proposal.
The reaction of European diplomats
here has been somewhat similar to that
of the British Labor cabinet.
A majority of the Latin American
nations, on the other hand, are not
members Of the League of Nations, and
those that are do not evince great
amount of interest in its activities.
especially those having to do with Euro
pean politics.
In other words, one of the reactions
from President Hoover's speech is the
fact that the American continent Is be-
coming much more of a cooperative
entity, and. while not wholly averse to
area, Is just as much opposed to med
ding in European politics as is the
United States.
According to present official plan4.
conference will be called some time
after the London naval parley to con-
slider the entire problem of the freedom
Of the seas, including, of course, the
Hoover food-ship proposal. The con-
ference probably will not be held. how
eyer, within the coming year, and prob
ably not until after the question Of land
is again discussed.
Copyright. 1927