Evening star., 1937-01-24
BY GASTON NERvAL.


TINE fact that the United States
signed unreservedly, together
with the other 20 American
= republics, the Buenos Aires
protocol on non-intervention. serves
to ephasize one Of the most significant
changes of recent years in inter-
American relations.
For several decades, until only a
few years ago, the United States had
become identified in the minds of
Latin Americans with mediation, in
reference in domestic affairs and
even armed intervention. The whole
record of inter- r-American relations.
from the beginning, was crowded with
samples of the interference Of large
power in the internal affairs of her
smaller neighbors. such interference
ranging all the way from mere diplo-
matte mediation to the most ex-
treme forms of intervention and mill
tary occupation. Starting under the
earliest miSinterpretations and corol-
laries of the Monroe Doctrine, it had
reached its climax under manifest
destiny, the paternalism of Theodore
Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson and
the unlimited protection theories OF
the Coolidge administration. More
or less one-half of all the Latin Ameri-
can republics had suffered. at one
time or another, the results of that
interference.
Yet, no one, not even Latin Ameri-
cans, were surprised when, a few
weeks ago, the United States signed
the Mexican-sponsored instrument
binding the American Government
not to interfere in the internal affairs
Of other countries. The change has
been so thorough, and its sincerity
so well proven, that today the United
States can rightly claim its place
among the champions of non-inter-
ference.
Results OF First Policy Were Bad.
OF course, the reason for this change
should be sought in the unfortunate
fruits borne by the policy of inter-
ference and the widespread criticism
of the United States which 1t had
provoked Disappointed by the re-
suits and embarrassed by the charges
of imperialism, it was only natural
that the men entrusted with the con-
duct of the foreign relations OF this
country should have been reluctant.
at the opening of the present decade,
to perpetuate the big brother" role
and interfere any longer in the do
mestic quarrels Of the Caribbean ma
tions. Without a doubt. the severe
beating which the policy of inter-
vention took at the hands of Latin
American delegations to the Havana
Pan-American Conference Of 1928 i'm
pressed the Washington statesmen.
Be that the explanation. or that the
physical difficulties which the eco
nomic depression put in the way OF
armed intervention made this the less
attractive, besides eliminating many
of the financial and commercial fac
tors which had been mainly respon-
sible for the former policies, the truth
is that almost from the beginning Of
the Hoover -Stimson administration
the distaste of the United States
Government for interference in for
eign internal politics became apparent.
When Franklin d. Roosevelt was
inaugurated President. he wisely recog-
nized the merits and possibilities Of
this new attitude and, going a step
farther, he made 1t part of his pro-
gram of Government, formally pledg-
ing his administration not only to
observe non-interference In the future
but also to remove the last remnants
Of the old policy.
New Deal for Latin America.
Even before he was inaugurated he
had committed himself. in the Demo-
cratic platform Of 1882. against the
practice Of intervening with armed
forces N the internal quos1es Of ths