Evening star., 1938-06-12
Dictators Checked by US. Drift
From Strict Neutrality Policy
Hitler Pictured as Slowing Down on Czech Program
in Fear of Popular Feeling Over Naz
Aims in Latin America
CORN-FeD
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.

by SoNS IAN line bhONN.
TINE focal point in international af-
fairs is again in Washington. After
discounting for a long time the
possibility of Americas participa-
ton, Hitler and Mussolini are awake to
the fact that the negligible quantity
Americans-can become an important fac
tor in the international equation.
The Berlin and Rome chancelleries. in
developing the somewhat blurred film of
Americas international policy have begun
Ito notice alarming contours indicating
that this country might once more become
actively involved in international strife.
This fact rather than the staff CONVEX
sationS" between London and Paris or the
renewed assurances by the French govern
ment to Prague that it would live up to
the terms of the Franco Czechoslovak alli-
ance, has acted as a deterrent to Hitter
in his plans for the Germanization of Gen.
trail Europe.
German-1talian diplomacy supported by
tremendous military machine. has had
its own way in Europe since 1886 But
their overwhelming success has made the
two dictators careless. They have over
played their hands in the Western Hems-
phere.
In their attempt to spread their in
fuence in Americas market garden-the
Central and South American republics
they have ignored the fact that the people
OF the United States. while generally lack
ing an active interest in Europe's affairs
will not tolerate the importation of totali-
tartan ideas and influences into the New
World
Sentiment for Isolation
For while Hitler ana Mussolini gauged
correctly the general sentiment of the
American people-they were sympathetic
toward European democracies, with num-
Der of reservations. Non payment of war
debts, the lack of sincerity displayed by
London and France whenever we needed
their support in the Far East, and a
number of other elements made it unlikely
that the American people would shoulder
the rifle once more to make Europe safe
for democracy
Though the White House and State De-
partment were notoriously in favor of Great
Britain and France and used the little
power they had to benefit these two coun-
tries and the League of Nations on a num-
Der Of occasions, the overwhelming senti-
ment was to keep out of Europe, regardless
of developments
But when the two dictators became
benevolent toward their nationals who
were intervening actively in the affairs of
our immediate neighbors; when these rep
resentatives began organizing the smaller
Central and South American republics into
totalitarian states, the people of this coun-
try became seriously concerned
Because of the sympathy of most of
the Latin American republics for Gen.
Frances cause, championed by Hitler and
Mussolini, and because of the advantageous
barter trade relations offered by Germany
and Italy to these raw material producing
countries, it was natural that they should
harbor friendly feelings toward the two
totahtarlan nations. Germany and Italy
decided to exploit this sentiment, regard
'less of growing resentment in Washington
toward their actions
The propaganda offices in Berlin and
Rome organized special short-wave broad
casts to Latin America. On more than one
occasion they drowned out broadcasts bv
high American officials, including President
Roosevelt. The Presidents speeches deal
ing with the good-neighbor policy are never
published in the Central American news
papers, with the exception of those in Costa
Rica.
Competition Strong.
Gen. ubico, President of Guatemala. has
set out to organize the Latin American re-
publics into union of cooperative states
- and has the full support of Gen. somoza,
President of Nicaragua
Arms and ammunition are being sold
either on long g-term credit or in exchange
for unmarketable raw materials of these
countries With the thousands of cases of
war materials come also military experts,
engineers and aviators from Germany and
Italy to instruct the Central Americans
In their use. American business represent
atives in the capitals of the Latin American
republics report that they have to compete
not only with lower prices for manufac-
tured goods offered in exchange for raw
materials, but also with tremendous
amounts of propaganda
I1CoioCilt VARGAS VI DI mas D6en a
disappointment to the European dictators.
An organized insurrection to overthrow
him was suppressed. At least five of the
ringleaders were German citizens When
the matter was brought to the attention
Of the German government they replied
that there are hot-heads among the citi-
zens of many countries abroad. This is
true in the case of the nationals of most
countries-except Italy and Germany
These governments control their citizens so
strictly that they would never dare partici-
pate in political move without the bless
ing of their authorities.
The State Department has clearly ex-
pressed its opinion of Nazi-Fascist pene-
tration in Latin America. AS long as the
totalitarian ideas are developed in these
republics in natural manner nothing
can be said. But when they are forced
upon the leaders by what are termed 'un-
fair practices" that Il another matter.