Evening star., 1933-05-28
SOUTH AMERICA SUPPORTS
ROOSEVELT'S PEACE MOVE
Chief Executives of Republics Promise
Cooperation in Carrying Out Disarma.
ment and Non-Aggression Proposals.

words: The greatest obstacle in the way
Of Pan-American understandings 1s:s.s.
be eliminated. Cau-Ay:e-icdn prob
lem number one would disappear.
For decades, the major drawback to
the promotion of better relations be-
tween the United States and Latin
America has been the landing of armed
forces Of this country in some of the
smaller states of the Caribbean region.
Under various pretexts-as that of pro-
tectng the life and property of United
States citizens; that of exercising self
imposed duties of international police
or that of assuring the fulfillment Of
financial obligations-forces of the
United States Army, Navy and Marine
Corps have been at one time or another
in Mexico, Cuba. Nicaragua, the Do
minican Republic and Haiti.
Provoke Resentment.
The presence of these troops on ter
ritory of Latin American countries
which are most Jealous of their SOW
ereignty and independence has pro-
voked a great deal of resentment
throughout the Southern Hemisphere,
and given birth to the charges Of
Yankee Imperialism" which for many
years have caused the attitude of Latin
America toward this country to be one
of suspicion.
Although recently the Latin American
policy of the State Department has un-
dergone radical changes with the result
that. today, with the single exception
of Haiti-where they are in compliance
with treaty provisions-no armed forces
of the United States remain on Latin
American soil, the i'll effects of former
policies have not yet vanished entirely.
In many Latin American quarters there
Is. still apprehension lest there be q
repetition in the future of those acts
of force in times of peace-not for rea-
sons of territorial greed, which they
know would be absurd to attribute to
this country, but for the enforcement
of certain peculiar policies which until
not long ago were stanchly supported
by the United States in that part OF the
world.
Such policies include the unlimited
protection of American life and property
abroad, advocated by President Cool
idge; the paternalistic attitude of Presi-
dent Wilson; the big stick and policing
system of President Theodore Roosevelt,
and similar others which can be
grouped under the heading "Interven-
| ton of the United States in Latin
America and which have resulted, time
and again, in the sending of armed
forces OF this country beyond the South
ern border.
Now, the significance of the mon
aggression agreement suggested by the
present Chief Executive of the United
States, in SO far as Latin America is
concerned, lies in the fact that all these
policies would be barred by the pledge
to send no armed force af whatsoever
nature" across the national frontiers.
More Than D,,uro,.t;.-
This self-restriction is not only a re-
nunciation OF all aggressive warfare. in
the case OF peace-time American
relations it Is also an acknowledgment
OF, and tribute to, the sovereignty of
the Latin American states in the event
OF political differences with the "colos-
sus OF the North" Its enactment would
completely remove the danger of further
United States armed intervention in
that region of the globe.
The mere fact that the President of
the United States has submitted such
proposal to the chief executives of the
Southern republics should prove q sur
prise, a disheartening surprise, to the
champions OF t1-Yankee imperialism
In Latin America. just as much of a
ioned people in this and other coun.
tries who still believe in manifest des-
tiny" zones of influence and "poIice
work" in foreign countries.
| But the mon aggression" plan Of
President Roosevelt, In the simple and
practical way it is conceived, would not
only put an end to armed intervention
in foreign countries. It would also pre-
vent incidents such as the Leticia AFFAIR
from developing into an open armed
conflict with all the characteristics of
war but the name. Nor would it
permit the re-enactment of the Far
Eastern drama amidst alibis of self-de-
tense and friendly interposition.
The Kellogg pact to end war only
ended declarations of war. Not until
the nations of the world have solemnly
agreed ito send no armed force Of
whatsoever nature across their from
tiers" will the real danger have been
removed.
(Copyright. 1933)