Evening star., 1938-10-02
By Joseph II. Baird.

Republic. Under the American system,
ministers and ambassadors are political ap-
pointees and, although in late years many
career diplomats have served as chiefs of
missions, they must leave the professional
service to do So
With this appointment Mr.. Welles estab-
lished himself as trouble shooter" in
Latin America, as bright, tactful young
man who knew the ways and psychology Of
Americas southern neighbors and who
might be depended upon to represent the
United States in any chaotic situation south
Of the Rio Grande
President Coolidge called on him in 1924
when war broke out between political fac
tions in Honduras to go there and attempt
the establishment of peace. Five years
later, in 1929, he again was drafted by the
President to serve as an expert with the
Dawes financial mission to the Dominican
Republic.
But with that labor concluded, Mr. Welles
went into semiretirement for four years.
During the Hoover administration he in
effect retired to his Sabine farm and let
the affairs Of the world flow by
This retirement, however, was abruptly
ended when President Roosevelt came into
Office.
The new administration inherited host
Of worries il Latin America. Over long
period of years the United States, as a
result of military interventions in Central
America and a strong g-handed policy
throughout Latin America generally, had
sown the dragons teeth of hate and fear.
THE Colossus of the North" dollar di-
plomacy" and Uncle shylock" are phrases
which recall Latin American feeling toward
Washington.
More, this bitterness in Latin America
was deepest at time when Great Britain,
Germany and Italy were making every
effort to capture the rich South American
markets from the United States. Japan,
too. was trying to gain an economic and
perhaps political foothold in the lands
to the south. Political trouble was brewing
in Cuba. And there were strong indica-
tions that a new revolution was in the
making in Nicaragua, Just as the United
States, after keeping marines there almost
continuously for 20 years. was hoping to
withdraw them.
There were problems aplenty south of
the Rio Grande.
Roosevelts Program.
Mr.. Roosevelt had very definite Latin
American program. He wished first to give
the nations to the south clear proof that
the day Of marine diplomacy was over by
withdrawing all American troops from the
Caribbean. Second, he desired to foster
the growth of PAN -Americanism on basis
of mutual and equal co-operation-the
good neighbor" policy. Finally, We wanted
to stimulate trade among the countries of
the Western Hemisphere by series Of
reciprocal trade treaties
There was calm logic as well as humani-
tarianism behind this program. Both Eu-
rope and Asia were in the throes Of eco
little prospect of increasing trade. Oppor-
tunities for American commerce seemed
nearer home. More, Washington felt that
it was vital to counteract-for both eco
nomic and military reasons-the spirited
attempt of foreign powers to gain foothold
in Latin America
For this dif1cult and delicate task Mr..
Roosevelt called from retirement the young
man who had won his spurs in Latin
American diplomacy under three earlier
administrations Very soon after taking
ofilce he named Sumner Welles as Assistant
Secretary of State In charge Of Latin
American affairs.
That appointment, however, proved to be
brief. After Mr.. Welles had been In ONCE
only three weeks he was relieved Of his
State Department duties and hurried to
Cuba, where radical students and peasants
had arisen against the long and despotic