Evening star., 1936-03-15
LATIN AMERICANS DESIRE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Replies to President Roosevelfs Pro.
posal Show Depth of Reasoning
After Futility of Past Efforts.

force its rulings in this continent "en-
ergetically and without reservations or
exceptions"
Another interesting passage In the
Colombian reply emphasizes the diff
ferences in size, military power and
economic capacity among the Ameri.
can republics. Hence, the Colombian
President adds, the Latin American
nations could not be comfortably
seated around a conference table un-
less they were previously certain that
a system of international democracy
had been substituted for the old one,
Of major and minor hegemonies, &C.
cording to their capacity for aggres-
sion or defense"
President AlesSandri of Chile, in a
lengthy reply which reviews the
status Of the existing peace instru-
ments in the Americas, showing the
slow progress made in their ratifca-
ton, comes to the conclusion that
"it is not enough to establish a jul
ridical system, no matter how per-
feet, to destroy the germs of inter-
national conflict" He advocates what
might be called a three-sided dis
armament among the countries of the
Western Hemisphere - moral, COM
mercial and military disarmament.
First, Eve must do something in IA
vor of moral disarmament, by means
OF common and ample educational
effort, which will mold the coming
generations in an atmosphere of af-
lection and mutual understanding.
At the same time, We need to avoid
the conflict of economic interests
with policy of increasing tariff ex-
emptions on reciprocal trade. Also,
we must arrest the bellicose influence
Of armament advocates, which not
only bleeds our peoples economically
and retards their progress in the
social field and in the spiritual realm,
but creates at times aggressive and
militant attitudes under color of
the loftiest and noblest national aims"
President Cardenas of Mexico un.
derlines strongly in his reply the
thought that nothing should be done
at this, or any other regional con-
ference, which may impair the active
participation of the Latin American
states in the League of Nations or
may deprive them of the advantages
and guarantees therein implied. All
continental efforts in the mainte-
nance and perfection of peace ma
chinery must be made in cooperation
with and not in opposition to the
Geneva organization.
President Benavides of Peru calls
attention to the failure of the present
instrumentality of peace to prevent
the Chaco warfare, which for three
long years exacted great sacrifice in
human lives and economic resources
from two South American republics.
The Peruvian Chief Executive believes
that this tragic experience cannot fail
to enlighten the statesmen of this con-
tinent as to the urgent need of better
and more efficient devices for the pres
ervation of international peace The
ratification of the existing ones is not
enough.
These and similar suggestions con-
tanned in some of the Latin American
replies to President Roosevelt's circu-
lar letter must be seriously taken into
consideration when the time comes to
draft the agenda of the proposed con-
ference at Buenos Aires. They are not
merely the expression of personal
points of view. They interpret certain
aspirations and trends of thought
which are common to public opinion
in most of the Latin American coun.
tries.
Copyright. 1850