Evening star., 1932-07-10

in the western Hemisphere
could be said what Gov. RooSe-
welt said of the United States
and its behavior through the
present worldwide. economic crisis.
The great social phenomenon OF this
depression" stated the Governor in his
acceptance speech Of the Democratic
presidential nomination, unlike others
before 1t, is that it has produced but a
few of the dfsorderly manifestations
that too often attend upon such times.
Radicalism has made few converts
The other American republics have
been less fortunate. Either because
their traditional social structure is
emi-feudalism in which there is the
material for a clean-cut class struggle,
or because their inhabitants are biologi-
cally more inclined to change, revolution
and disorder, the Latin nations on the
other side of the Rio Grande have wit
messed an impressive growth OF radical
tendencies in the last few years.
Communists of Russian type may not
be numerous in Latin America, but the
number of radicals and discontented
laborers-faced with unemployment or
pitifully low wages-who are willing to
follow Communist leaders and agttators
has increased notably as a result OF the
economic distress and the political up
heayals of the past two years.
Chile Indicates Trend.
The recent disturbances in Chile and
the establishment there of the first So
cialist republic in the New World are
only an indication of the trend Of po-
litical thought In the southern conti-
nent. But they do not tell the whole
rrll,z efnraiFaonno Of the
Chilean upheaval will be appreciated
only when it begins to reflect in other
Latin American countries.
When the news of the Socialist revolt
in Chile reached Washington I did not
hesitate to say that the major danger
lay in the propagation Of similar con-
ditions In the neighboring countries,
and thence to the rest of the Latin
American continent. 1t was easy to see
that the success of the Chilean move
ment would have a great influence in
encouraging the activities of radicals
throughout Latin America. Leaders OF
the Left who had been playing up
what they called the failure OF capital
ism, as shown by the world depression,
and promising the setting up Of new
and happier order of things, were bound
to profit by the psychological influence,
outbreak upon the masses Of other
Latin American republics.
Since then, cable dispatches from the
Latin capitals have confirmed that fear
and given an impression of continental
wide unrest and radical agitation south
of the Rio Grande.
In Argentina, Socialists and Commu-
nists have long had a part in internal
politics. The former constitute one Of
the largest and most influential sectors
of public opinion, but 1t is from the
latter that any threat of disorder comes
In fact, this menace has become SO
strong recently, with the recurrence OF
strikes and labor disturbances, that the
more moderate Socialist elements have
been forced to abandon their opposi-
ton to the conservative rule Of Presi-
dent Justo and pledge themselves to
support him in the event Of any major
Communist uprising. In the capital
and in other regions of the country
there is the added danger of well or
ganized group of anarchists, largely i'm
migrants. who have transplanted to
Argentina the methods of European
nihilistS.
In Other Countries.
In Brazil, although the governmental
elements still have a firm control Of
the situation, unrest has been spread
ing rapidly. Following conference of
administration officials and military
leaders from various parts Of the
country, the Government announced a
few weeks ago it would take "the most
energetic measures to preserve internal
peace and principally to combat at
tempts to corrupt the Brazilian family
by preaching discomfort" The Third
Of october Club. political organiza-
ton, had just adopted a resolution
urging the government to incorporate
some Of the principles advocated by
the Socialist Republic of Chile in its
original program.
In Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, heirs
to the glories of the ancient Inca En-
pire, Communist propagandists have
been making considerable strides in