Evening star., 1933-03-19

D. Roosevelt proclaimed the
l policy Of the good neighbor"
~ in international affairs. In
my last article I made some
comments upon the significance OF that
announcement from the viewpoint OF
pan-American relations. In reference
to them I have received letter from
Latin American diplomat, somewhat
skeptical The pertinent paragraph Of
the letter reads as follows:
Il find your Interpretation of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's statements correct.
Certainly, if the new administration
follows the line Of policy advocated IN
them, inter-American relations will
gotten that a previous Democratic
President. Mr. Wilson, elso promised
the Latin American republics fair treat
ment and later on did not hesitate to
send Marines to Nicaragua and Haiti,
punitive expedition to Mexico, and,
finally, invented the policy of non-rec-
ognition, in manifest conflict with the
sovereignty Of those countries?"
Wilson WelI-Intentioned.
I must reply methodically. In the
first place, we must bear in mind the
fact-and I think most Latin Ameri-
cans are already agreed on this-that
President Wilson was well-intentioned
and that he sincerely believed in the
benefits which, in his judgment, the
Southern nations would eventually de-
rive from his policies. Perhaps he was
ill-advised as to the ways and means to
carry them out. Perhaps he was the
victim of his own political idealisn.
Or, maybe, he could not avoid certain
measures which the circumstances made
imperative at that particular time.
At any rate, President Wilson was
sincere in his efforts. He was motivated
by high humanitarian ideals. He pro-
foundly believed in certain response
bility which he thought fell to the
United States in assisting the younger
Latin American republics to solve some
of their internal difficulties. OF course,
he started on wrong premise. because
that assistance implied the inferiority
or the helplessness of the Southern gov
ernments. And this is, precisely, the
greatest cause of Latin American re-
sentiment toward President Wilson. But,
personally, he never doubted the sound
ness of his policy in rendering Latin
America "a helping hand"
Besides. what were his political mis-
takes compared with the idealism he
introduced in the realm of world affairs
"a whole new philosophy of interna-
tional relations? His principles Of
equality of states, rights Of minorities
and interdependence of nations have
caused his name to stand in this coun-
try for everything that means interna-
tional cooperation and idealism in
foreign affairs. wisconsin" and Will
scnian policies" are well known terms
today in the dictionary of public
opinion.
An Apostle Of Liberties.
Even in Latin America. the fame of
Woodrow Wilson as an apostle of lib
critics has already surpassed the memory
Of his unfortunate experiences with
Mexico. Nicaragua and Haiti-the
product. partly OF haStiness and poor
advice and partly of circumstances.
In the second place. whoever under
takes a survey of the position of the
United States in world affairs. under
different administrations, should not
overlook the fact that foreign policies,
in this country, are not changed by
individuals. Not even by political par
ties.
The foreign policy Of the United
States is influenced by changes in pub
lie opinion and by the force of circum-
stances. This is more true of the
United States than of any other coun-
try in the world
When woodrow Wilson assumed the
presidency. it was not he alone, but
the majority Of public opinion in this
country. that believed in the big
brother" role reserved for the Ur.ted
States in this Western Hemisphere.
Statesmen, political leaders. professors,