Evening star., 1938-05-01
NAz|PR0PAGANDA
FOUGHT BYLAT|NS
Campaign Serves to Make
New Enemies for
Reich Regime.
BY CARLOS J. vIDELA.

Nazi propaganda in South America.
which has been worrying members of
Congress in Washington, has loudly
backfired. Instead of making serious
inroads," as some congressman feared,
It has only served to make new enc
mics for the Berlin government
Argentina, Brazil and Chile, the
powerful "A B C" group of nations in
South America, have taken strong
steps to put an end to Nazi activities
in their territory, and other nations
on the continent also have voiced
their condemnation. The net result of
Nazi efforts has been to intensity
nationalist feeling in the Latin coun-
tries and set them firmly against
European theological penetration.
President Getulio Vargas of Brazil,
whom the Nazis mistook for "Fas-
cist" who would encourage. their ac-
tivities, has Just decreed the expulsion
of foreigners engaged in "acts against
the integrity of the state"-meaning
especially Nazi propaganda fostering
minority" problems in Brazil, similar
to German claims in Czechoslovakia.
Furthermore, the Brazilian ruler has
closed German schools where Nazi
doctrines were taught and has clamped
watertight ban on foreign political
agitation.
Argentina Acts Drastically.
Argentina has taken drastic meas
ures against identical attempts by
German Nazis to establish schools for
German immigrant children where
the Fatherland language and politics
would play paramount part. At
the same time the action of German
officials in conducting a plebiscite
among members of the Argentine's
Germany colony, in connection with
the Austrian Anschluss question, has
unloosed storm of Indignation. Such
action is considered violation OF
Argentine sovereignty, an abuse OF
hospitality and open insolence.'
La Prensa, the most representative
Argentine daily. reflects public feeling
in a strongly worded editorial saying
in part, 1T does not make any differ
ence where any inhabitant of our
country was born. Everybody living
here, even if only for a few hours, is
under the Jurisdiction Of our laws, with
exclusion of those of any other coun-
try. There are neither colonies nor
'minorities' of foreigners here. Ar
gentine opinion looks with Indignation
upon acts like this German plebiscite
The federal government owes an
apology to the nation for allowing this
to happen"
Similar condemnation is expressed
by Chilean newspapers in unmiStak-
able terms They underline their soli-
darity with the attitude of Brazil and
Argentina in this matter The con-
sensus of the Chilean press is that
South American nations have opened
their doors to European immigrants to
offer them an opportunity to make a
living, but that this does not mean
the importa ton Of foreign ideologies
will be tolerated and much less still
that foreign political agitation will be
condoned.
AS long as the Germans confined
their propaganda to short-wave broad
casting, the South Americans did not
object very strongly to it. Other ma
tions were, and are, doing the same
Italy. Great Britain and Russia-and
1t was all taken more or less with a
shrug. But. when the Nazis started
organizing their nationals in the
southern continent with the aid of
uniforms and schools. they hit a very
touchy spot in the Latin's make-up-
q resentment of anything that impinges
upon their concept of sovereignty.
The climax was reached when the
Berlin Diplomatische Korrespondenz
considered a mouthpiece for the Ger
man foreign ministry, came out in
March with an editorial criticizing
Brazil's action in curbing the Nazi
movement and claiming minority
rights" for Germans living there.
That was the spark that caused the
anti-Nazi explosion in South Amer
lea. The "Diplomatische Korre-
spondenz incident" marks a turning
point in German relations with the
southern continent.
Fought Monroe Doctrine.
For decades, the South Americans
nave been fighting the Monroe Doc
trine. and in several other ways assert
ing their independence. In Pan Amer
lean conferences. they have fought the
United States when it came to what
they considered an attack against
their territorial integrity. In the
Spanish civil war, Argentina went
as far as to send warship to en-
to refugees in her Embassy.
In newspapers, speeches, books, Off
cial declarations and diplomatic notes
the South American nations have been
emphasizing for generations that they
would resist any attempt at curtail-
ment of their territorial and political
rights. Only two years ago, Argentina
engaged in a dispute with England
over the issue of postage stamp with
q map showing the Falkland Islands
as Argentine territory.
Obllvlous to all this, the Germans
made the one mistake that was sure
TO ALLEVIATE South American sympathies
claimed minority rights" for their
nationals. South America took it as
an insult.
AS result of this Nazi faux pas.
investigations have been launched bv
Soutn American nations into the ac-
tivities of other foreign groups. Ar
gentina Is now going with fine-tooth
comb over all private schools main
tanned by foreigners. A good many
already have been closed and in
spectors are reporting on curricula.
language. songs and portraits used for
the indoctrination of pupils.
This reassertion of nationalism al
ready has had an echo across the
Andes Mountains, in Chile, where SINH
lar protests have been heard, and in
Brazil, where one Of the figureheads
Of the Nazi movement has been
ordered out Of the country.
(copyrisht. 1888. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
AAIHrnN llIlI