Evening star., 1938-12-30

sion that any creditor nation should
be denied the right to use either
force or diplomatic Intervention in
case Of pecuniary claims against
any Latin American republic.
This was presented as minority
resolution. 1t was supported at
once by the delegates of Mexico and
Bolivia, both of which republics
have recently confiscated property
Of citizens of the United States.
That the resolution was sup
ported by Chile was taken to mean
shat this country. the beneficiary of
important U. S. investments, might
be getting ready to follow the leads
Of Mexico and Bolivia in the prac-
tce of confiscations. The resolu-
ton created the first stir at the
congress. 1t means, if adopted, that
the Latin governments were ready
to say to investors from the y. S.
that their property rights would be
subjected to the local courts of any
Latin government which had con-
hscated property under some form
Of so-called appropriation.
Pattern from Mexico, Bolivia.
Mexico and Bolivia have each
made a pattern recently for us to
contemplate when thinking of local
Iispanic- American justice toward
q. S. property rights. Both nations
have recast their courts, limiting
the tenures of the supreme court
Judges to the current terms of the
presidents under whom they serve,
thus reducing these judges to be
mere puppets of the regime which
appointed them.
Obviously the United States could
not hope for justice to her nation
ais in any Latin country which had
made over her courts for the express
purpose of providing a license to
steal U. S. property.
Yet the amendment was discussed
with grave courtesy; some indig-
1ant denials were uttered that any
ulterior motives could possibly re-
side in these proposals. Chile grew
! starry-eyed as she beat upon her
breast and proclaimed her good
because of the purity of these
spiritual excitements that she spoke
thus. She felt we no longer needed
the international machinery of in
tervention to help us in the way of
peace and honor toward each other
IN the Americas. Mexican dele
gates fairly sobbed as they backed
up the Chilean eloquence upon the
subject of their pure motives.
/. And as he looked on and listened
Mr.. Hull learned about good neigh
bors from all of them.
Finally after the delegates be-
came convinced that Mr.. Hull's good
nelghbor emotions could not be car
ried to Chilean heights, the COM
forting announcement was made
after anxious hours of watching
Mr.. Hull's patient face and wit
Messing his passive resistance to
their eloquence that they would re-
Ter the resolution back to the COM
,mittee Of experts. This means that
it will remain buried for five years
1T least.
Argentina Gives Backing.
After breathing spell Argentina
backed a resolution to take away
from all corporations doing business
IN other Latin states their national
lty.
In other words, the large corpo-
fations owning mines, transporta-
ton companies, oil companies, or
incorporated property of any kind,
we're to be rendered sexless. They
would possess no national identity
Ind be left wholly to the authority
Of whatever republic they had
ehosen to endow with their invest
nents.
This was cunningly phrased and
apparently unimportant amendment
70 an international compact. But
1. was saying in effect the good
neighbor policy has now progressed
to a point where you do not need
Gown here the protection of inter-
national charter. we will annul
your corporate identity and let you
deal with us as becomes good neigh