Milford chronicle., 1939-01-20
LANDON AT LIMA

When former Governor Alfred NJ
LandOn was named by President
Roosevelt as member of the Am
erican delegation to Lima it was
construed as a gesture to prove that
the principles represented in the
Monroe Doctrine were purely Amer.
ican and free from partisan-taint.
Secretary of State Hull was the
leader of the delegation, and every
one had full confidence in him. That
seemed to be all that was neces-
sary.
Mr.. Landon went along-with the
others. 1t turned out to be fortu-
nate that he did. Differences of a
serious nature arose in the Confer
ence. Mr.. Landon became a tower
of strength because of his independ-
ent position. He briefly sketched the
Objectives leading to lack of unan-
unity among the Latin-American
delegates in reference to continued
solidarity.
Let me say that anyone would be
making a great blunder to mistake
differences for disunity, for in the
end we will always unite against
outside agressors," declared the
Kansan.
agents of the totalitarian pow
ers," he said, "are busy spreading
propaganda all over Central and
South America to the effect that
these countries cannot count on the
continuity of the policy of the Uni
ted States. Let me say that there is
r.,E.a hA Of h0
United States have pursued for over
a century, regardless of election re-
suits. That policy is that the United
States will not tolerate any foreign
government gaining a foothold on
this continent. If / am any judge
there is evidenced here at ahis con-
ference at Lima the same patriotic
determination on the part of our fell
low Americans down this way to-
maintain this independence" The
dictator governments were told
straight from the shoulder that Pan
America could always be depended
upon to present a united front
against outside Intervention in the
Western World.
Governor LandOn uncovered the
opposition of Communism, Nazism
and Fascism, in their vigorous cam
paigns to gain position of influence
and control among the nations
south of the Rio Grande. He let them !
have it fright between the eyes"
when he defied their attempts and
told them that ''in this war many
instruments are employed; propa-
ganda for arOusing of prejudices of
particular groups, and sometimes
the use of purposeful economic ar
rangements." Then, he added, that
these are the instruments instead of
bayonets does not make it any less
real and dangerous to democracies.
He continued:
UNLESS we in the United States
have become so soft that we no Ion
ger are concerned as to whether
other countries get foothold in this
hemisphere, the time has come when
in common with other American re-
publics we must take account OF
these activities in a serious and
practical way. This means going
beyond mere words and gestures"
Among other things Mr.. Landon
undoubtedly had in mind the news
which leaked out on the opening day
of the Pan-American conference that
Mexico had concluded a vast new
deal with Germany whereby oil seiz-
ed by the Mexican government was
to be bartered to Germany in return
for goods formerly supplied by AM
erican manufacturers. Washington,
dispatches indicate that officials in
charge of the State Department dur
ing Mr.. Hull's absence are also SER
iously concerned over MexicO's ac-
tion of fostering Nazi control of raw
in direct contradiction of
the whole purpose of the Lima Con-
ference. which is built wall against
totalitarian penetration of Latin
America.