Evening star., 1938-02-02
The Navy Explains.

As the lions share Of proposed expan-
sion of national defense applies to the
fleet, it is logical that justification of
SO vast q project should be made by the
authorities with whom. presumably, it
originated. That task falls naturally to
Admiral William D. Leahy, chief Of
naval operations. who has just performed
it courageously and conyincingly as the
first witness called before the House
Naval Affairs Committee.
Asserting that. "momentary world DO
litical conditions, both In Europe and
the Far East, are far more threatening
than at any time since 1918, and no inn
provement is in sight" Admiral Leahy
in fortnight fashion itemized what "a
world in high tension" means to the
United States. AT our own DOORS" the
chief OF naval operations points out,
nothing stands in the way OF possible
exploitation or seizure of the republics
Of Central and South America except
the Monroe Doctrine, backed by such
naval force as the United States may
have and the use of that force il neces-
sity should arise"
The Monroe Doctrine has never been
popular outside the Western Hemi-
sphere. Before We developed our naval
strength to point at which attack on
1t would be venturesome, the United
States policy Of the Americas for the
Americans was long resented and period
ically challenged. Grover Cleveland had
to reaffirm it in the face of British de-
signs in Venezuela and Theodore Roose-
velt six years later was called upon to
rebuff German pretensions in the same
area.
Today the Latin American republics
present more inviting field of spolia-
ton to countries on the make-the have
not" nations, as they have come to be
knoWn-than any other region on earth.
They are rich in raw materials, food
stuf1s and opportunities for colonization.
They are, moreover, for the most part,
prey to political unrest, revolutionary
agitation and the other ills spawned by
economic insuticiency.
1t is small wonder that Fascist ruled,
"have-not' Italy, Germany and Japan
cast covetous eyes toward the Americas.
They think of the vast domains between
the Rio Grande and Cape Horn as the
Ell Dorado that fired the New World
imaginations OF the Spanish Conquista-
dores Only they go about it differ
ently-in the modern way They bore
from within, with the subtle tools of
radio propaganda and economic penetra-
ton. There is now hardly a Latin
American republic in which the termites
OF totalitarianism are not at work In
some of them nearest our own borders
dictatorial regimes openly flourish. De-
spite President Vargas reassurances of
fealty to Pan Americanism. government
in Brazil is now in many respects in
distinguishable from that which prevails
IN Rome and Berlin. In Argentina and
Peru, as well as In Brazil, Italian and
German influence is rampant and
spreading.
1t Is such considerations which impel
our naval authorities to make the people
Of the United States understand, as 1t is
their duty to do, that, in the presence of
German-1talian-Ja Japanese alliance, in
spired by a common lust for wider place
in the sun, this country must be pre-
pared to defend the Americas on the
Atlantic as we'll as on the Pacific side.
That cannot be done without commen-
surate expansion Of our Navy. Admiral
Leahy has done we'll to draw the pic
ture graphically and unmistakably. The
obligation Of Congress is equally in
escapable.