Evening star., 1936-09-22
BY BRENT DOW ALLINsON.

BY BRENT DOW ALLINsON.
A new continental neutrality policy
should be the keystone for the con-
solidation of the Americas at the
coming Pan-American Peace Confer
ence in Buenos Aires, DR.. Miguel
LopeZ-Pumarejo, Colombian minister
to the United States, believes.
He smiled at the writer's references
TO the discouraging views Of the late
Ambassador Bryce concerning the re-
lations Of the two Americas"
ut is true" he said, that the con-
trasts between your country and mine
are very great, and that the contacts
between them in the past have been
commercial and political rather than
intellectual and social. and not always
friendly But the British ambassador
largely ignored Colombia in his book
and he was unduly pessimistic as to
the future Of Pan-Americanism.
Changes Since War.
"Since the World War conditions
have changed for the better. A new
attitude and policy toward Latin
America has developed in your coun-
try, especially since the advent Of
President Franklin Roosevelt, and in
my country most Of the old resentment
has disappeared. Just as our increased
economic intercourse with our inlme-
diate neighbors, Ecuador and Peru,
have made us more friendly. so in the
wonderful facilitation of inter-Ameri-
can communication made possible by
the passenger aeroplane we in Co.
lombia are now looking toward the
United States with a new interest and
confidence. And we see in the COM
ing Pan American Conference at
Buenos Aires fortunate opportunity
to seal that confidence and larger
understanding with more formal po-
litical consolidation Of all the
Americas"
What ought to be the keystone Of
that consolidation, in your opinion?"
he was asked.
THE key stone of 1t indubitably will
be a continental neutrality policy,
aimed against war and restricting the
war-trade with belligerents, in order
to protect the peace Of the Americas,
he replied.
THE United States is now re-
affirming and revising its historic
policy after the disillusioning expert
ence of participation in the European
war of 1914-1918. Renewed interest
in the doctrine of neutrality and re-
affirmation of effective detachment
from the imperialist politics Of
Europe, chimes with our traditional
viewpoint in Latin America. We see
inviting possibilities in it of moral
and political collaboration for the
cause of regional and of world peace.
You are now ready to share-and we
to assume-the great responsibilities
of the Monroe Doctrine. Your Con-
gress has recently taken a strong step
forward towards entirely new neutral
ity policies, involving close co-opera-
ton with other neutral states in time
of war. These problems concern not
one nation alone; they concern all ma
tions that desire and expect to re-
main at peace in a world Of war.
Cooperation Aids Success.
at is universally recognized that
while a large and powerful nation,
acting alone. may be partially success
full in safeguarding neutral rights. the
measure of success will be greatly in
creased if honest neutral policies can
be promulgated and protected by Joint
cooperation. And we are interested
that this view was clearly expressed,
or implied, in the letter of invitation
to the Buenos Aires conference ad-