Evening star., 1940-06-03

1uHSSi ~ S%IJISIISU SSeN 1T
German Penetration Of
This Hemisphere
To the Editor Of The Star:
While all eyes are focused on German
military advances in Europe, we must
not forget to give an occasional side
glance down the coast of South America.
For although we may momentarily for
get the economic penetration Of our
southern neighbors by the Germans,
they never do. Uruguay, the scene of
the first great naval battle in this
second world war, might we'll become
the base for German operations in
this hemisphere. That both Germans
and Uruguayans are aware OF this Is
shown by the reported f1fth-column ac-
tivities there. Within the past few weeks
many Nazis have been arrested. Their
houses, when searched, revealed plenti-
1ul supply OF arms. 1t was discovered
that German company. engaged in
building a huge electric water power
works in the interior, as its side of
barter agreement, had managed to
smuggle in arms with the machinery it
imported from the mother country.
Uruguay is a country rich in the food
products needed by an industrialized ma
tlon at war. In area it is larger than
Holland, Denmark. Switzerland and Bel
GUM combined. But the population is
barely over 100000 Its army consists
OF very few men, who are by no means
trained to proficiency. The navy is
composed of an "old discarded battleship
and three tiny coast guards q quote
native Montevideano) which are armed
with about enough shells to fire for 10
minutes" Even the famous white
gloVed police force of the capital Is not
trusted at the present time. Montevideo
lies IN vulnerable position. The popu-
latlon of the country is concentrated In
the city and there are no anti aircraft
guns to protect it.
Argentina to the south, is talking of
rearmament and has recently ordered
400 planes from us, but it has not SUM-
clent means to protect itself or its neigh
bors today The sympathies of the Ar
gentlne people are with England and
most of their trade is with the Brit
lsh Isles. Yet strategic German base
across from Buenos Aires could cut of
most OF this trade. resulting in curtail-
ment OF much of the English food supply.
Uruguay has always been a country
strongly influenced by foreigners. The
government was glad when the Graf
Spec went out from its port to be scut-
tied 1t knew that it could not force
the Germans to abide by international
law II the ship stayed in the harbor. Nor
mas the Uruguayan government been too
settled OF late. Now would be an ideal
time Tor an alien force to attempt to up
set 1t. The people themselves feel that
the country could be taken by sympa-
TIMERS with foreign ideas at moments
notice. One Uruguayan expressed it tn
me thus: If we are attacked from out
SIDE we can expect some help from our
nelghbors, but il it is done from inside
we can only expect invasions from those
same neighbors"
In the past, the Banda Oriental suf-
fered much from wars by which it sought
independence from both Argentina and
Brazil. Today, friendly relations with Ar.
eentlna are overshadowed by the swas-
tlka. North, across the rolling, sparsely
settled prairie which would offer no more
barrier to an invader than the long, un-
defended seacoast, lies Brazil. Brazil is
good neighbor OF ours just now. And it
should remain SO. But the southern part
OF TINS immense land, the section which
adJolns Uruguay is almost completely
German. Between 1920 and 1880. ac-
cordlng to Carleton Beals. more than
2o9.923 Germans entered the country.
ana many, many more have gone in since
then. They have willingly gone into
Wllds that have never before been
reached in an ever-growing search for
new markets. They grow much of the
brazilian coffee and cotton, own copper
mines, nickel mines, chemical and tex
tile factories and hardware stores. There
are six important branches of the
Deutsche Ulberseusche Bank in various
important cities. There are at least Is
important German newspapers and four
powerful radio stations which broadcast
great deal of propaganda.
Now that German nationalism is on
the march, the Uruguayans feel that
they can already see the whites of the
enemies eyes" Far more than we, thev
consider that their fate is being settled
on the battlefields of Europe. A short
while ago, their country was making
great strides in progressive government.
Today, social improvements are being
forgotten in fears for the future. 1t is
time some one convinced the Germans
that Deutschland, Deutschland uber
alles' does not include the Americas!
NAV HI