Evening star., 1939-01-02

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South American "'' = "'s"'
states. Moreover they had thousands
Of Germans scattered throughout
the 10 republics in business and
professional life. They had intelli-
gent statesmen who knew the Ian
guage and the habits of the South
American people. These possessed
. willingness to spend longer hours
and make more generous conces-
sions, both in price and terms, than
any other competitors in the field.
The present activity, however, is
entirely different. The German gov
ernment is deliberately subsidiAng
efforts Of significant import. For
example. they are establishing in
South America, under the direct
financial aid of the Nazi govern
ment, important airplane lines
which not only will compete with
the rapidly growing Pan-American
Airways, but will give to Germany
transportation service under her
own control, located at advantageous
places.
u. s. Lines Affected.
They have chosen for vigorous
exploitation some of the territory
now covered by the Pan-American
Airways. This competing German
line is called the Lufthansa. a COM
pany providing air-travel tickets at
lower cost than the United States
companies will offer. Whenever it
Is necessary to get business they re-
duce the item of excess baggage,
which is one Of the expensive handi-
caps Of air travel. They have been
known frequently to cut out this
Item Of charge altogether.
The established airways under the
control of United States capital,
having no government subsidies,
have not been able to meet this
competition. The result of it is
that Germany is making some rapid
progress in her airtravel. Her ships
have already established regular
routes in Colombia within less than
half an hours flight to the Panama
Canal.
Those who are fearful of the Hit
Ter drive in the Latin states are
calling attention to the ease with
which this German controlled air
route could be made a menace to
the United States at the most vital
point, if future developments should
bring trouble involving the Latin
American states.
The whole procedure of establish
ing the Lufthansa service has cre-
ated the impression with all who
do business with 1t that 1t Is more
political than commercial and that
the German dictator is deeply inter-
ested in covering the Latin Amer
lean states with a vital transporta-
ton air service under German con-
Eol.
Finds Letter Opened.
One of the big businessmen in
Peru told me of an experience with
this German company which would
indicate it is interested in some
thing more than business exploita-
ton. A business letter, under the
cover of the League of Nations en-
OF this firm. Obviously the letter
had been opened and then passed
along. The businessman accused
the French of having trifled with
this League of Nations letter be-
cause the mail in which it was con-
tanned was, during the first part Of
the journey, handled by the French
eirmail service.
The French took the accusation
very seriously and started a thor
ough investigation, after the COM
pletion of which they wrote the
businessman who had made the
complaint that they had discovered
the letter had been opened while
being carried by the Lufthansa serv-
ice. 1t was his judgment that it was
the practice of the German mall
plane forces handling South Amer
lean communications to go through
the mail complete at Nurnberg after
1t had been transferred to German
planes which went through en- route
to South America.
The affair excited great deal
Of gossip. The man whose letter
was tampered with is satisfied with
the French explanation. Out of the
incident has grown wide impress
sion that the German dictator is
using the governments commercial
penetration of South America for
political purposes, Just as he uses 1t
for these purposes in Middle Europe.
Medical Missions Opened.
The establishment of German
airplanes is not the only new source
Of German activity. They have
opened several large German med
ical missions and are seeking to in
troduce into South American life
an infusion of German professional
nurses, doctors and pharmacists.
They have established recently both
naval and military missions.
They are watching South America
with an eagerness of which South
American. ofncials are well aware.
Doubtless more readers in Ger
many were following with keen in
terest the procedure Of the PAN
American Congress than could have
been found In the United States.
saw in q group one night seven
correspondents of German newspa- =
pers. They were not residents of
South America. They were from the
home Offices and were sending to
Germany more words about the
Pan-American Congress than the
reporters from the United States
were sending.
Whatever we may think of the
solidarity resolution, it hits Ger
many as a tremendously serious
thing to hapnen Wlailo IL is o,,1,,