Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
BY CASTOR NERvAL.

~ \ place under the Hoover admin
istration. The new attitude to
be observed in Nicaragua, announced
only few days ago. is final evidence
of that change. Despite the later
memorandum of Secretary Stimson. ex-
planning and qualifying the State De-
partment's stand on the Ntcaraguan
problem-which he may have deemed
necessary to soothe the alarm OF con-
servative elementS-his previous mes
sage following rebel activities IN the
| Caribbean republic has been interpreted
here and throughout the continent as
| turning point in inter American rela-
| tipns.
| Ever since. three years ago. Herbert
| Hoover, as PreStdent-elect of the United
States, visited the lands on the other
side of the Equator and promised the
Latin Americans a greater respect for
| their sovereignty as independent states,
favorable turn In the policy OF the
White House toward the rest of the
continent had been expected.
That they were not very much mis-
taken who termed the Hoover goodwill
tour of South America the stepping
stone" of new Pan-American under
standing was later proved through the
interest shown by the Hoover admins
tration in promoting better inter-Aner-
lean relations and the care with which
the problems left by previous govern
ments have been dealt with by the State
| Department.
Such interest may be found specif-
cally in the appointment since 1928 OF
the best qualified men in and outside
| the Diplomatic Service as ambassadors
and ministers to the Latin American
governments: in the constant efforts OF
the Washington authorities to promote
greater trade relations and increase all
kinds of economic links with the South
ern republics; in the really earnest at
tempts to aid in the development Of
cultural interchange and facilitate a
greater knowledge of each other between
the Americas Of Saxon and Latin or
| igin; in the assistance lent by the
United States for the celebration of a
number Of Pan-American conferences
| which have been meeting in washington
during the last few years, endeavoring
to solve technical, educational and agrt-
cultural problems Of an international
| character.
| The New Policy.
Politically this new Latin American
policy of the Hoover administration has
resulted in a different attitude toward
internal politics in the Latin American
| countries which the State Department
has developed in the last three years.
The outstanding indications of this new
attitude are two-one, the reverSion to
the old Jeffersonian theory of recogni-
ton Of revolutionary governments in
Latin America, and, second. the con-
,istent refusal to mingle in any way with
internal politics In Panama, Haiti Santo
Domingo, etc, when the action Of the
Washington Government was requested
by nationals of those countries The
latest case Is that of Cuba where even
now the State Department is receiving
daily suggestions as to taking hand in
the political situation.
The reversion of the State Depart
ment to the Jeffersonian theory. as OPP
posed to the so-called Wilson theory
which denied recognition to Latin
American regimes born Of revolution,
thus implying more or less a passing
upon their internal problems by the
Washington Government-was received
with particular rejoicing in the editorial
columns Of Latin newspapers throughout
the continent. The Wilson theory, de-
nying them the right to revolution, was
considered by the Latin Americans as
tantamount to a denial Of se1f-govern-
ment, and had therefore created con-
siderable nl-will toward its promoters.
Instead Secretary Stimson announced
that now ANY government which is the
expression Of popular will, even If born
of revolution, and which is able to as
| sure internal order and protection to
foreign lives and property. will be rec
| ognized by the United States" It is
according to this theory that number
of new regimes which seized power in
various Southern countries by revolu-
tionary means have been recognized by
the United States in the last IL months.
These recognitions, which implied treat
ment of the Latin American nations as
sovereign. self-governing states, caused
very favorable reaction on the other
side Of the Rio Grande, and gave the
| first actual impression Of a radical
change In the Latin American policy of
the White House.
| The Final Evidence.
And now comes the final proof Sec
retary StimSon's announcement that the
United States will not protect with
armed force the lives and property of
American citizens endangered by rebel
activities In the interior of Nicaragua
gives a final assurance that the Hoover
administration is determined not to in
terfere with the domestic affairs Of
Latin American countries.
! No matter how hard conservative
minds might have tried to minimize the
| significance of this announcement, 1t
is evident that it implies different at
| titude than that which would have been
| usual under the same circumstances
| only few years ago. It Is true that
American warships were ordered subse-
quently to Nicaraguan waters, but there
is vast difference between emergency
action to save lives, such as the dis
| patching of ships to stand by or take
OF foreigners actually in peril, and the
landing Of an expeditionary force to oc-
cupy and pacify the country.
| The declartion Of the Secretary Of
State is very plain. The Government Of
the United States, 1t says, cannot I'M
dertake general protection Of Americans
throughout Nicaragua with American
forces" and then 1t recommends "all
Americans who do not feel secure under
the protection afforded them by the
Nicaraguan government, through the
Nicaraguan National Guard, to with
draw from the country This dec1ara-
ton emphasized the fact that it Is the
exclusive task Of the Nicaraguan gov
eminent to deal with rebel and bandit
activities in the interior regions, and
that foreigners must not expect protec-
ton other than that afforded them by
| the local Nicaraguan Guard.
| Thus the problem at Nicaragua Is
admitted to be an internal one, which
the Nicaraguan authorities alone must
| confront. This is in accordance with
the principles that Latin American
statesmen have been maintaining for
more than a century and is a tribute
paid to the sovereignty of small but
independent Central American republic
which for years has been claiming her
right to govern herself
If, on the other hand. the standards
of the old Latin American policy of
previous administrations had been fol-
lowed in this case, the State Department
would have landed a new contingent of
"bluejackets" on Nicaraguan shores, in
the meantime announcing once more to
the world that it felt its duty to police
the domestic affairs of the inexperi-
| aNced nations INSTEAD has made