Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-09
Cooperative Defense

Cooperative Defense
One happy effect of the crisis in
the Western Hemisphere is the spirit
of cooperation for mutual defense
which the emergency has engen-
dered. Misunderstanding, distrust
and general i'll feeling, which all too
often have marred relations between
North and South America in times
past, are rapidly giving way to uni
fed, friendly action against a COM
mon threat. Latest tangible evil
dence of this solidarity in the face
of adversely are the informal offer
to the United States by Costa RIGA of
site on Cocos Island for a naval or
air base near the Panama Canal and
the formal announcement by the
United States that all Latin Ameri-
can countries are free to make use
of the new bases acquired from the
British ION the fullest cooperative
basis for the common defense of the
hemisphere. The Costa Rican offer
reflects the concern in Latin Amer
lea over developments in Europe and
the increasing tendency of our
southern neighborS to lean heavily
upon the Colossus of the North"
The Importance of the concession,
from diplomatic viewpoint, is in no
wise leSsened by the fact that experts
differ as to the practical value of
Cocos Island for military or naval
purposes, due to its rough and rocky
contour.
Secretary Hull's invitation to the
twenty other American republics to
share in using the new bases in the
Caribbean and the Atlantic may pave
the way for reciprocal arrangements
with Central and South American
countries in which other bases should
be established in order to reinforce
the hemisphere defense system. The
Galapagos Islands, owned by Ecua-
dor, probably should be utilized as a
naval outpost of the Panama Canal,
and mainland bases in the vicinity
of the vital lifeline of the fleet"
could be used to advantage against
an invader.
Latin America realizes that most
of the burden of defending the
Americas must be assumed by the
United States. The armies Of South
America are small, poorly trained
and inadequately equipped. There
are no modern tanks, only a few
anti-airCraft guns and but a scatter
ing of other artillery-moSt of it out
NODDED. The navies, for the most
part, consist of small craft, hope
lessly antiquated There are less
than thousand warplaneS alto
gether and many of them are obso-
lete. 1t is with these stark facts in
mind that the United States is
Fastening to build and man new
bulwarks in the Caribbean area and
to devise and test out new defensive
strategy there. Not surprising,
therefore, is the news that selected,
heavily armed force of 1900 United
States Marines will sail for Guanta-
namo within the next few weeks for
winter" maneuvers, usually held
about three months later in the year.
The First Brigade of the Fleet Ma
rine Force, stationed at Quantico,
Va, will be given this assignment,
which could develop into one of
paramount Importance if the Euro
pean war should end in totalitarian
victory in the near future. The Ma
rines would be within easy sailing
distance of British, Dutch and
French possessions in the West In
dies and on the South American
mainland, were any attempt made
by Germany to claim them as spoils
of war. Moreover, their presence in
the Caribbean area-even though on
temporary duty-should have a sta
bilizing effect on all of Central and
South America at time when fifth
column" activity is giving the Latin
republics much concern. This is one
time when the arrival of American
Marines in southern waters undoubt-
eddy will be welcomed. rather than
resented and feared.