Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-26

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IL has oeeh David Lawrence.
the policy of the ~
Washington Government for many
years now to cultivate better I'M
Outstanding among Latin American
nations of the policies and purposes
of the United States. Under Re-
publican as we'll as Democratic adj
ministrations policy of good
neighborliness and warm friendship
has been pursued. Thus Charles
Evans Hughes, now Chief Justice but
for many years Secretary of State
under a Republican regime, carried
forward the good neighbor policies
of his predecessors, as did Secretary
of State Stimson under the Hoover
administration.
If, therefore, anybody abroad
seeks to imply that divisions on do
nestle questions are carried to for
eign policies as they affect Latin
America, the appointment OF former
Gov. Alfred M. Landon of Kan
sas, Republican presidential NOM
inee in 1886, to be member of the
United States delegation to the Lima
conference is in itself a refutation
of such belief.
Hull Spokesman for All.
Mr.. Hull to a remarkably signif1-
cant extent possesses the backing of
millions of Republicans as well as
Democrats. He is perhaps the most
bipartisan man in the present adj
ministration. Hence he can truly
be regarded at Lima as the spokes-
man of all the people of the United
States in their desire to maintain
friendship and develop new policies
us.
AS the 81 republics meet at Lima,
new and yet in a sense old questions
with a new meaning will confront
the various delegates. Originally
the Monroe Doctrine was enunciated
by the United States as warning
to Europe to keep governments
abroad from colonizing the Western
Hemisphere and extending their en-
pires. Brazil more than 100 years
ago proposed an offensive and de-
fensive alliance for all the pan
American countries. There have
been, moreover, several attempts to
make the Monroe Doctrine formu-
la for cooperation among the 81 re-
publics in which all would have
proportionate obligations.
U. S. Makes Reservations.
The Washington Government for
a long time has declined to consent
to the making of the Monroe Doc
trine a multilateral affair and has
reserved the right to consider it
national policy. But this action has
been misunderstood in Latin Ameri-
ca as implying a desire for special
privileges and special rights.
iWhat America has meant merely
his been that irrespective of whether
any other country in this hemisphere
is ready to protect the Americas
against threats of European in
vasion, the United States would
consider that to be a paramount
duty.
But now when European dictator
ships feast their eyes on Latin
America as the last treasure house
of the world and opportunities for
exploitation seem to be opening up,
the question of what common poll
cies of a commercial character shall
be pursued by the pan american
countries becomes something broad
er than the Monroe Doctrine. The
world has seen how commercial
penetration without extension OF
actual sovereignty can undermine
a government and set up totali-
tartan state.
May Amplify Doctrine.
The United States Government
may be ready now to amplify the
Monroe Doctrine so that the other
80 republics will feel parties to a
new declaration of purpose and a
new international organization to
preserve peace.
First and foremost, of course, is
the forthcoming armament program.
The United States plans to have a
military force big enough to protect
the oceans and the air against Eu-
ropean attack on any country in
this hemisphere. This means
close military cooperation between
Washington and the other govern
ments of this hemisphere. The
foundation for such a virtual COM
bination of Western Hemisphere
powers may be laid at Lima, but it
will materialize only after the 81
republics have recognized the i'm
portance of making a practical and
united front against European phi
losophies of both the Communistic
and Fascist variety. Clearly the
Lima conference may bring the as
surances which the Munich confer
ence failed to give to the democra-
eies Of the world in their efforts to
guarantee themselves against the
sevages Of war.
(Copyright. 1889