Evening star., 1937-12-05
Uncle Sans Next Step
May Be Show of Force
Conciliatory Moves Failing Abroad, Use of
the "Mailed Fist" Might Cause
Respect

for the benefit of the Japanese in
duStrialiStS. 1t is question of pre-
venting disaster to our cotton grow
erS; it is a question of maintaining
fair competition in the world mar
kets for American produce.
Shoe Still Pinches.
In its incurable optimism, the ad-
ministration believed that since the
Far Eastern shoe is pinching the
British and the French, at least as
much as it is pinching Uncle Sam,
some sort of cooperation might be
devised to curb Japan's appetite. But
the Brussels show, plus what has hap
pened behind the scenes in London
and in Paris. have convinced Wash
ington that this would be impossible.
For the time being, the only support
Washington can expect from the
European democracies is in the form
OF speeches and resolutions.
But while disappointment was
voiced in official circles at the indeci-
sion of the French and the British,
another development has occurred
which is considered of more immediate
significance than Japan's aggression
against China.
The three authoritarian states
Germany. Italy and Japan-signed a
treaty of alliance Ito fight Commun-
ism" Shortly thereafter our best
friend in South America, the Repub-
lie of Brill, adopted the dictatorial
system of government. True enough,
Dictator Getulio Vargas rejected the
first invitation to join the triple al
lance. But Vargas is not Hitler or
Mussolini. There are some 5,500,000
Brazilians who are of German or
Italian stock. The German and Italian
consuls have a strong grip on that
population. And the Brazilian dicta-
tor knows it.
Under these present circumstances
our diplomats are compelled to admit
that the ultimate fate Of Brazil lies
in the hands Of Hitler and Mussolini.
Proper Time Awaited.
The dictators recognize that the
time is not yet ripe to exert pressure
on the American President Vargas.
But sooner or latter, If he continues to
resist them. revolution can be engi-
neered. The Brazilian navy is in no
position to prevent the smuggling of
arms and ammunition into the coun-
try; the coast is too extended for their
limited number of ships Once such
a revolution breaks out, there is moth
ing to keep volunteers from Italy and
Germany and Spain from pouring into
Brazil-and, for that matter, into any
Central or South American republic
which might follow Brazil's lead.
What position the United States will
then take is problem which is al
ready disturbing the sleep of the re-
sponsible officials in Washington.
The ediflce which President Roose-
velt and Secretary Hull built last year
at the Buenos Aires Pan-American
conference is threatened with extinc-
ton. The Monroe Doctrine, which
gives this country the role of an armed
guard to protect the young Latin
American republics against the cupid
ity of European rulers, may have the
same fate as the various pacts and
agreements signed in recent years. In
tervention is predicated upon the re-
quest OF the injured country for as
sistance. Any Latin American presi-
dent, faced with a choice between
Washington's armed Intervention and
yielding to the pressure of the Euro
pean dictators, might choose the latter
and close his doors before the Colossus
OF the North. After all, our good
neighborly relations with our sister
republics in the south are very new
and uncertain affair.
Typhoon Brews Southwark.
Last year, after the Buenos Aires
Conference, Mr. Roosevelt and his Sec
retary of State looked hopefully
toward South America. They recog-
nized the seriousness of the situation
in Europe and Asia. They foresaw
that both those continents might soon
become the scenes OF a long struggle.
But they believed that the Western
Hemisphere, at least, would be safe
from the influence of the eastern con-
tinents and that together the Amer
1cas could weather the storm The
President and Mr.. Hull were mistaken.
The wind is blowing hard in Central
and South America. 1t may soon be-
come typhoon. And our southern
nelghbors are in danger of becoming
injected with the germ which is pre-
cipitating Europe's disintegration.
Germany, Italy and Japan hereto
lore have Striven to obtain q place In
the sun. They have been so successful
In their bullying that at the present
moment they have more grandiose
oreams-to establish their hegemony
over the world. They are backing
arguments with force to get the smaller
nations into line.
The United States Government is
seriously worried about this new and
unexpected menace. The administra-
ton realizes that it must soon choose
between passive policy and a strong
policy" The President and his princi-
pal advisers favor answering force
with force.
The United States Navy has rarely
been IN better shape than it is today.
The fleet is practically new and
(see SHOW OF FORCE, Page C-31