Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-16
TN LATIN AMERICA
BY CASTOR NERVAL.


q former high executive Of this coun-
try, In q syndicated article, listed that
supposedly anti-American sentiment as
one Of the issues behind the Latin
American upheavals.
And yet today that same admins
tration which was alleged to be fear
full Of American influence calls on one
Of the most outstanding American
economists to help In the financial re-
Mobilization Of Peru.
Prof. Kemmerer, who Is by no means
q stranger to Latin American condi-
tons, Is at present acting in q similar
capacity in Colombia. He went there
few months ago, engaged BY President
Olaya Herrera to make close investi-
CATION Of Colombian finances. He had
been in Colombia once before, in 1928,
and the recommendations he made at
that time had been responsible to q
large extent for the establishment
Of Colombian finances in the last few
years. He had also been In other
Southern republics, in Chile, Ecuador,
Bolivia, Panama, ETC., in all OF which,
with the collaboration Of several other
American experts, he had strengthened
the national financial systems, and
avoided the mourning Of budget deficits,
which had become almost traditional.
When his present mission to Colon
bia is ended Prof. Kemmerer win prob
Wan military government and lend his
valuable advice and vast economic ex-
perience for the task of readjusting
financial conditions in Peru.
It Is encouraging to see Latin Amer
leans, in spite Of all the fi-intentioned
talk Of Yankee Imperialism" entrusting
to American experts the solution OF
their financial problems. Confidence Is
the basis Of international good VIII.
CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.
Politics plays queer tricks upon Latin
American politicians-in fact, upon
politicians everywhere. But If politics
are tickle and contradictory all over the
world, as I said only few days ago,
they are exceedingly so In Latin
America,
In this same column I had occasion
to comment last week upon the change
that the latest Brazilian political events
had brought upon the fortunes OF two
men prominent in them. While only q
year ago President Washington Luis
was opposing bitterly the candidacy OF
DR.. Getulio Vargas and denying him
the privilege of making his political
speeches In the public forums OF the
Brazilian capital, this month hnds DR..
Vargas entering Rio de Janeiro in TIL
umph, amidst wild applause from the
populace and military forces, while the
fate Of the deposed President, WaSnlng-
ton Luis, held prisoner in Copacabana
fortress, Is in the hands of the new
Brazilian leader.
Another incident, of which read IN
the cable reports, now adds an tonlcaI
touch to the situation, This cablegram
from Rio de Janeiro states that the re-
course of "habeas corpus" invoked py
the distinguished prisoner Of Copaca-
bana has been denied by the supreme
court on the ground that the state OF
siege" martial law decreed by Presi-
dent Luis himself before the triumph OF
the revolution, suspended individual
rights and allowed the taking OF. ex-
traordinary measures outside the provi-
gions Of the constitution.
Thus Senior Luis is caught In his
own trap. The very same recourse ne
invoked to temporarily. dispose OF MS
enemies and strengthen his own POSI-
ton while In power prevents him now
from obtaining his personal liberty: he
had ordered martial law as President
Of Brazil, and now his captors invoke
that same edict to keep him locked up.
Certainly he did not know when he de-
creed martial law-which, so to speak,
"legalizes" political irnprisonment-that
he was sanctioning his own captivity.
It might be said this time that SENIOR
washington Luis has punished himself.
COLORED SPECTACLES.
Some time ago, when Nicaragua was
In the midst of bloody civil war, and
Uncle Sam, urged by the Conservative
administration, had landed Marines on
Nicaraguan shores, American newspapers
and American statesmen spoke OF the
rebellious Liberal faction in that coun-
try as "sman minority of malcontents"
who had no support at all among the
people Of Nicaragua and no right to be
accorded even the customary status Of
belligerents.
Later on, when q truce had been ar
ranged through the good offices of an
American envoy, and when, in accord-
ance with 1t, free elections were held
under the supervision Of American Ma
rines, the Liberals proved to be in large
majority In the country and obtained
legally and peacefully the control Of
government. In the fairest elections that
Nicaraguan history had known the Lib
erals defeated that group Of Conserva.
klyea Which Unela Sam had tlaoaaaht n