Evening star., 1936-08-23
HANDS Off POLICY
IN SPANISH WAR
Latin American Nations Fol-
low Conflict Closely, But
Avoid Entanglements.
BY the Associated Press.

NEW YORK. August 22.-LAtin
America is watching with supreme in
terest the changing fortunes Of the
civil war in Spain, but to date the gen.
eral policy has been one Of hands
or"
This fact Is illustrated by the apa-
thetic response which greeted Q sug-
gestion by the Uruguayan foreign min
lister that the American republics band
to attempt peaceful mediation be.
tween the Socialist Communist gov
ernment Of Spain and the Fascist
rebels.
With isolated exceptions. the south.
hesitant in even commenting on the
note from Montevideo. Most Of them
promised to reply latter careful
study"
The two most powerful governments,
Argentina and Brazil, have expressed
their skepticism as to the practicable
ity Of mediation In Spains internal
strife. Some Of the smaller nations
have adopted q more favorable atti-
tude toward the proposal. Chile ac-
cepted it and Paraguay pledged Its
cooperation.
Conflict Followed Closely.
The conflict has been followed Keen
ly by the Latin republics, which even
in time Of peace are greatly inter-
ested in routine reports Of politics in
the mother land" In Mexico the sale
Of newspapers has reached q new high
mark The war Is the chief topic of
conversation Of the man on the street,
and in the corner "cantinas" 1t has
replaced even bull fighting as favor
ite subject Of discussion.
Popular sympathies Of the general
public in the southern republics are
divided In Argentina funds have been
raised by popular subscription for both
sides. In Cuba and Mexico. which.
like Argentina, have large colonies Of
Spanish immigrants. and in peacetime
do q thriving business with Spain. the
general attitude apparently seems to
favor the leftist government.
In Cuba the press rejoices when
the loyalists score . victory. In Mex
leo, the government recently made its
stand clear when it refused to recog-
nize the Ambassador" of the rebel
government" When the would-be
diplomat became insistent the govern
ment silenced him through q yelled
threat Of deportation.
Peru's Comments Guarded.
In Peru, the press has been guarded
in its comments. The government ex-
ercises a strict censorship on news of
violence and revolution in all parts Of
the world. Peruvian editors for some
years have found 1t unhealthy to ex-
press opinions on revolutionary move
ments.
Argentina is the only South Amer
ican country which has sent q war
vessel to look after the interests Of
its nationals. It ordered q modern
cruiser to sail for Spain when Am
bassador Daniel Garcia -Mansilla be-
came involved in a controversy with
the Loyalists over his right to shelter
pOlltlCdI Ic1ueccS.
In accordance with the South
American tradition. any rebel who
can reach . foreign diplomatic man
sion ahead Of the police ID free from
arrest. The protecting diplomat can
insure his being able to leave the
country unharmed.
But the Loyalists In Spain at first
refused to accept this doctrine Of dip
lomatic hide-and-seek. They were
reported to have besieged the en-
bassy when Garcia -Mansilla refused
to give up the Fascist refugees.
Argentine Wins Point.
The Argentine government won It's
point after the cruiser had been Or
dered to proceed to Spain. Shortly
afterward. the ambassador departed
for France.
Brazil for q time considered send
ing schoolship from Havre to Spain
to evacuate Brazilian citizens. How
ever. it finally was decided that the
Brazilian vessel was too similar to
the Spanish schoolship Sebastian e.
cano." and therefore might cause
embarrassment"
The war in Spain has disrupted An
important part Of South American
commerce. since the economic ties
with the mother country are strong.