Evening star., 1936-08-02
BRAZIL ANNOYED AT u. S.
FOR COURTINC ARGENTINA
Traditional Friendship for This Coun'
try Strained by Present Policy
Toward Rival.

Brazilian navies are potential enemies,
and some Brazilians conjured up the
dread spectre of Brazilian naval
secrets filtering over to the Argen-
tines. This, of course, was pure
imagination; nevertheless it existed
Then came the Roosevelt invitation
to a pan-American peace conference
to be. held this Fall With something
Of jolt, the Brazilians opened their
invitation to find that the President
of the United States was suggesting
that the conference be held in Buenos
Aires, capital Of Argentina. Further
more, the Brazilian government had
received not a word of advance warm
ing to prepare 1t for this jolt.
As q result there was a very brief
interval when Brazil hesitated on the
brink Of not answering the invitation,
but finally sent polite but very
short note Of acceptance.
Aranha's Work Important.
Another factor which has not been
conducive to complete cordiality has
been the American embassy in Brazil.
Mr.. Hugh Gibson, an able Ambassa-
dor as far as European affairs are
concerned, felt that he was being de-
NOTED to a backwoods post when
President Roosevelt sent him to Rio
de Janeiro, and diplomatic relations
would have suffered more than they
have had it not been for the work Of
Oswaldo Aranha one Of the strongest
personalities in the Brazilian govern
ment. Aranha was appointed Ambas-
sador to Washington in an effort to
bolster the waning friendship.
Meanwhile the economic factor, too,
has entered the picture Brazil, since
the advent of the Roosevelt cotton
curtailment program, has become an
important cotton country, producing
a commodity in direct competition
with the United States. Previously
l.er coffee, rubber and manganese not
only were non n-competitive with Amer
ican products, but duty-free and in
demand
Brazil's cotton competition is not
yet serious, but already it has caused
her to conclude trade agreements with
Germany which the State Department
considers discriminatory against the
United States.
On the other hand, Argentina's
chief products-meat, wheat, corn.
wool. and a long array of agricultural
ccmmodities-are in direct COMPETE
tion with the farmer Of the Midwest.
Negotiating trade agreement with
Argentina would be akin to political
suicide in a large part of the farm
belt. 1t simply cannot be done.
Argentina to Favor British.
It cannot be done, not only because
of the American farmer, but also be-
cause the Argentine government is
not going to give advantages to Amer
ican automobiles and machinery
which might offend Great Britain. In
fact, Argentina is going to do nothing
to which her best customer might OBJ
ject. And that Is the key to all Ar
gentine policy.
Another factor also enters into the
picture. 1t is the personality Of Saa-
vedra Lamas. Argentine foreign min
lister. One of the most celebrated in
dividuals on the South American con-
tinent Saavedra LamaS has certain
temperamental characteristics which
make him extremely difficult II he Is
going to be in the game at all, he must
be the captain. Otherwise he will not
play. And in the latter event he will
make so much trouble on the sidelineS
that the game will be completely dis
rupted.
Realization OF this fact probably is
one of the main motives behind the
State Departments present policy Of
cooperation with Argentina. Secre-
tary Hull is in difficult position. II
he does not cooperate with Saavedra
Lamas he has a troublemaker on his
hands who can disrupt the whole of
President Roosevelts good neighbor
policy.
But II he does play ball with Save
dra Lamas he may lose the cooper
alton of Brazil, genuine friend of the
United States and potentially the most
powerful nation in South America.
(Copyrieht, 1850