Evening star., 1938-12-18

The Lima conference OF American
states is erecting a tombstone over the
remains of the legend Of the colossus
of the north"
The one indelible fact which emerges
from the first week of the parley is
that the United States has pretty def
nitely blotted out the antipathy which
his phrase has connoed for Latin Amer
leans for decades.
With nearly half the conferences work
behind it there can be no mistake in
evaluating the new spirit toward the
United States which rules Latin Amer
lea. Barring some unforeseen outbreak,
such as the Mexican oil controversy,
the current meeting of the 81 American
republics will achieve a record for CO.
operation between the American dele
cation and the other 20.
There is no apparent effort to ride
roughshod over the feeling and princi-
pies OF any delegation or group of dele
cations. Even with the Argentine men,
bers the most cordial relations are main
ta1ned, as evidenced by the consonance
with which Secretary of State Cordell
Hull and Argentine Foreign Minister
Jose Maria Cantilo set forth their theses
for repulsing foreign political and mill
tary invasions of the Americas.
Unanimity Keynote Of Policy.
On all sides there is the disposition
to arrive at agreements in which all can
participate. In fact, it Is the keystone
OF American policy at Lima to bring to
the plenary session of the conference
only those resolutions on which there is
unanimity, in the belief that under the
microscopic gaze Of Europe and Asia any
split would only intensity efforts to i'm
plant foreign ideologies on the American
continent.
There can be no denying that the
present Pan-American Conference holds
a greater measure OF world interest than
any other that has been held. Not only
the relationships, but the democracies
as well, are searching avidly for portents
to the future.
Are the Americas to stand firmly united
against political or military invasion of
the Western Hemisphere? Are they
to abandon continental defense, thus
giving the dynamic states of the Old
World their cue for deeper incursions?
Are the states of the New World to sup
press individually and in cooperation
efforts to erect privileged minority
groups within their borders? Are they
to bar the subtle propaganda which fl
tiers in under the guise of cultural CO.
operation, commercial expansion and
news?
Moral, Spiritual Unity.
Such are a few questions uppermost
In the minds of world statesmen.
In his radio speech last Tuesday night
Ar. Hull. sunaing up the new spirit which
rules Lima-in which he himself has
had such prominent role-gave part
of the answer
Reporting the "clear impression" he
has gained from conversation with his
colleagues, the Secretary declared that
there exists between us a measure of
moral and spiritual unity far greater
than ever before.
This is the foundation of all forms of
solidarity. In our measurement of and
attitude toward contemporary affairs
and future prospects there are exhibited
broader visions and broader views
than sometimes have prevailed in the
past.
Il sense much less rivalry, whether be.
tween countries or individuals, than at
previous conferences and much greater
sense OF common interest and desire
The general spirit of harmony reveals
itself in all our preliminary work."
Although lines of division are forming
among the various delegations on SUD-
port or opposition to specific proposals
1t Is apparent they are not lines which
set the United States off from the rest O,
the conference. Rather are they lines
which separate those governments which
favor clear-cut declaration of solidarity
vls-a-vis Europe-definitely in the ma
]orlty-against those which oppose any
action which will ALLEVIATE existing ties
OF friendship with European states,
Greater Bond to Europe.
The former group is headed by the
Central Americans, Cuba, Colombia and
Venezuela, while the comprising
chiefly the South Americans-rallies
around Argentina. The division is natu-
raj, of course, because of the greater
extent to which South American coun-
tries depend upon European markets and
are hound traditiona 11v IN E1lroneap cI,1,
ture.
Between the two groups stands the
United States, sticking doggedly to the
middle of the road.
Although the effort for harmony and
compromise dominates, there is by nc
means any failure to subject each new
proposal to critical examination Each
new suggestion is given the most search
ing scrutiny in the light not only Of the
avowed objectives Of continental unity
but in the light of national interests Of
each of the delegations represented.
But there is less opposition to the
United States merely because it is the
United States. Argentina, for instance
after giving unmistakable signs of oppos-
ing any program for pact of CONT
mental defense, spoke through her for
eign minister, DR.. Cantilo, on the second
day Of the conference, in favor of de-
tense of the Western Hemisphere by
means of the natural unity which binds
the American continents and which
.obviates pacts.