Evening star., 1936-12-27


to change radically the policy Of the
United States toward the Latin
American republics, there still is q
strong antagonistic feeling throughout
the southern continent against the
Colossus Of the North" For years
the people of the United States were
considered as . rapacious, greedy
people. whose government dispatched
warships and Marines whenever their
investments were endangered. South
American diplomats and political men
recognize the new trend and the
honesty Of Mr.. Roosevelt's good
neighbor" policy, but it will take some
time before the rank and file of the
populations in the southern continent
can be educated to the idea that the
United States seeks to be a disinter-
ested friend. To the great majority
Of the South Americans we still are
the "Gringoes."
The flame of this antagonism-
the shouts of "Vivael Presidente"
heard at Rio and Buenos Aires meant
little-is famed by the interested
European nations whose nationals
form the upper classes Of the South
American countries-British. Span
iards, Germans, Portuguese and
Italians. There are no American
colonists in any of these countries,
and the attachments of the immi-
grants to their mother Country Is
stronger and lasts longer-sometimes
for generations-than in the United
States.
Effects Are Minimized.
To camouflage the unquestionable
defeat of our pan-American neutrality
policy. the State Department delegates
are endeavoring to minimize its ef-
fects. In substance" they declare,
"the American proposal has been ac-
cepted with slight notifications" The
notifications referred to are that the
question of neutrality is being left to
the discretion of each individual
nation to be dealt with In accordance
with its own legislation. It Is true
that an agreement has been reached
regarding pan-American consultation
in the following cases: /, an inter-
American war; 2, an international
confagration: 3, threat to the well
fare of the American republics.
But consultation between states
means mighty little these days. Con-
sultation is provided in the Kellogg
BRAND pact and in the nine-power
pact. Yet the result Of such consulta-
tions has been less than negative.
Mussolini has conquered Ethiopia and
the japanese have taken Manchuria.
Furthermore, there can be no COM
pulsion for the American continents
to discuss their problems arising from
an international condagration. The
summons for a meeting may be issued,
but there are number OF ways
whereby any of the 81 republics could
obstruct a parley. And the chances
are that one or another will do so II
local interests are involved.
Criticism is already heard in Wash
ington that the conference was poorly
and insufiiciently prepared. This
criticism is likely to grow louder after
Congress reconvenes in January. It
is not justified. Few international
gatherings have been prepared with
greater care. The White House and
the State Department have gone out
of their way to avoid hurting the SEN
sibilities of the South Americans; the
representatives of every little republic
was treated with as much considera-
ton as If he were representing major
world power. The spade work was
done with q thoroughness heretofore
unknown to the State Department.
Mr.. Roosevelt had set his heart on
making the Inter-American Peace
Conference o success. He wanted to
show the strife-ridden world that
well-meaning people can get together
and agree on certain policies to keep
out of war. His task appeared so
much easier since no American war
problem could have arisen at the
Buenos Aires conference.
Failed in Major Purpose.
Yet, the conference failed In It's
major purpose. The psychological
factors which prevented our southern
neighbors from joining whole-heart..
edly in Mr.. Roosevelt's plans for q
bloc of neutrals to preserve world
peace had not been taken into consid-
Grafton. An effective neutrality policy
could have prevented the European
nations from having access to the raw
materials of the Americas. But the
State Department overlooked the
strong economic and racial ties which
exist between the Old World and the
South American continent.
President Roosevelt probably feels
more keenly than any one else this
lack of cooperation. His plans for .
world conference to eliminate the i'm
mediate danger Of another condagra-
ton have suffered serious setback.
The neutrality act Of 1896, which ex-
pires on May l, 1887, viii not be mate
rally changed, since the South Amer
ican countries have decided to maintain
their freedom In regard to an en-
barge on war material. It Is dimcult
to conceive how, under the circum-
stances, Congress can agree to give
the President discretionary powers to
declare an embargo whenever he
thinks 1t necessary; neither Is It
likely that it will place on the en-
barge list raw materials, such q oil,
copper. cotton and wheat-which are
more important than actual arms and
ammunition in another international
conflagration-while the other coun-
tries will continue to sell to al comers.
Whatever efforts the diplomats ut
Buenos Aires may make to give the
impression that the Inter-American
Peace Conference has been . success,
the bare fact remains that the tor.
pedoing Of the neutrality agreement
has deprived It Of al immediate prac-
tical value.
CCopyright. 1860
Scotland Encouraging
Interest in Bagpipes
LONDONDERRY. Throughout
Scotland . number Of unique schools
-