Evening star., 1932-10-09
BY GASTON NERVAL.
ATTN American newspapers and
Latin American statesmen in
general show vivid concern


r ATTN American newspapers and
Latin American statesmen in
general show a vivid concern
IL over the outcome OF the Amer
lean elections in November. For
the last few months they have been
speculating on the possibilities of both
political candidates, the record of past
Republican and Democratic administra-
tions and the promises of both parties
as to the treatment Of the southern
republics under the next presidential
regime.
All of which is only natural. if we
consider the commanding influence
which relations with the State Depart
ment have in the political and economic
situation OF those countries. Every
change of Government in the United
States arouses widespread interest
throughout the continent because it
usually entails certain changes OF policy
in the international field And when
a change not only of persons but OF
political parties is threatened, such in
terest, obviously, is magnified.
What, then, have Republicans and
Democrats to offer under the caption,
Latin American relations? We shall
discuss in this article the Republican
side, leaving for another the promises
and principles of the Democrats.
Relies on Record.
The Republican party being the party
in power. its platform naturally had
TO rely less upon promises and more
on its past record Of Government. And
so it did, but when it came to what
the present Republican administration
had achieved in inter-American rela-
tionS the platform was not explicit
enough and overlooked most of the
good points.
When the Republican platform was
first made public 1 commented upon
this fact. Republican leaders had
neglected the Latin American policy of
the present administration, probably
befuddled by the number of serious
political and economic problems at
home. And yet it was in the field
of inter-American relations that the
Hoover administration had accom-
plished most.
This short paragraph was all that
the Republican keynote speaker said
about the record of the Government in
pan American affairs: IN pursuance
of this policy, We have fostered more
friendly relations with our Latin Amer
lean neighbors by gradual withdrawal
Of our Marines from both Haiti and
Nicaragua and by assisting the Mexican
government in putting down wholly
military revolution by the imposition
of an embargo on arms to the rebel
forces"
Since then Secretary Stimson has
added to this in his Philadelphia
speech. but even he failed to give
complete record of the outstanding
features in the Latin American policy
which he himself has shaped for the
las. four years. Really. the change
has been so complete, the departures
fvcm the old policies so radical. that
It socn5 difficult to condense even the
high lights in the short space OF an
editorial.
Three jor Achievements.
Politically speaking, there are the
major achievements Of the Hoover
Stimson policy toward Latin America.
The first one was recorded when Sec
retary Stimson. moved by the recur-
renee of rebel activities in Nicaragua,
issued an official communlQue an
nouncing that the United States would
not protect with armed force the prop
erty of American citizens menaced by
! Nicaraguan bandits. He further de-
clared that the Government of the
United States cannot undertake gen.
eral protection of Americans through
out that country with American forces.
and recommended that "all Americans
who do not feel secure under the pro-
lection afforded them by the Mica
raguan government. through the Mica
raguan National Guard, to withdraw
from the country.
This announcement was recognition
Of the Latin Americans theory OF non
interference with their domestic affairs.
Tt Ia frct q o.
milton was officially. and in actual prac-
tice. made. When Secretary Stimson
insisted: Those who remain do so at
their own risk and must not expect
American forces to be sent inland to
their aid" and when he added. There
is today an established government in
Nicaragua, and it is the exclusive task
of this government to avoid and punish
the attacks coming from a small group
of rebels who are treated as outlaws by
the Nicaraguan authorities" he was
paying tribute to the sovereignty of
small but independent Central Ameri-
, can republic, which for years had been
claiming her right to govern herself
without foreign interference.
Marines Being Withdrawn.
In accordance with this principle
United States Marines have been. ana
still are being, gradually Withdrawn
from Haiti and Nicaragua. Meantime
the State Department has stubbornly
refused to NEEDLE in the internal po-
| litical affairs of the Caribbean nations
contrary to what was generally the
! practice under previous administrations.
In January. 1929, as Secretary Slim
son has pointed out. there were over
| 5000 Marines and naval forces in Mica
ragua. Today there are less than l.
400, and these are there under the pro-
visions of an existing agreement and at
the request of both Nicaraguan parties.
solely for the purpose of supervising the
coming presidential elections. The Sec
retary added: When that is finished
they will be promptly withdrawn"
The second change in the Latin
American policy of the State Depart
ment was recorded in another COM
munique from Secretary Stimson. in
| ,i,I, Ln tIa to