Evening star., 1940-06-09
Il Republics Stand
Together Against
Any Nazi Thrust
Unified Foreign Policy
Seen Major Triumph
Of U. S. Diplomacy
RY BLAIR BOLLES.

United States foreign affairs Of
ficials almost have reached the
point whre they can boats of one
of the greatest feats in diplomacy's
history, the union of two continents
comprising 81 independent nations
behind one foreoign policy.
Twenty-four hours a day the
State Department is deyoting its
best brains to the problem of in
surfing absolute unity of official at
titude toward the European war
among the New World republics
between the Great Lakes and Cape
Horn. Since the republics all have
varied nationalistic aspirations and
cultures unrelated to the culture of
the United States, the State De-
partment will be busy preserving its
gains as well as advancing its aims.
One great flaw in the picture is
Mexico. which is little disposed to-
ward friendship with the United
States now. Even Argentina. ira
ditionally aloof from cooperation
with this country. may join the
Western Hemisphere front in fact
as we'll as in lip service.
Basis Laid at Lima.
Although the basis for this sort of
continental solidarity was laid long
ago at the Lima Conference of the
American States and actually real
lied in preliminary fashion at the
Ministers Conference in Panama
last October, the more meaningful
New World cohesion is both prod
uct Of the last two months of the
War-beginning with the Scandi-
navian invasion by Germany and
a defense against the wars projec-
tlon across the Atlantic.
The United States Governments
principal endeavor apparently is
this: At the same time it moves
toward a bold foreign policy daily
more bereft informally of its pre-
lenses to neutrality, it wishes the
sister republics to the south to
take the same attitude. 1t seems
clear that the Roosevelt admins
tratlon seeks first to make i'm
possible while it retains a neutral
role) German victory and to put
what would appear insurmountable
objects in the way, of a thrust at
the Americas, North or South, by a
victorious Germany.
These two aims have prompted
the recent steps regarding Latin
America. The cruisers Quincy and
Wichita were dispatched to South
American waters to give silent,
moral aid to Latin American ma
tions in their efforts at eradicat-
Ing fifth column" and subversive
menaces. Congress was asked to
adopt a resolution stating this. Gov
ernment's opposition to change in
ownership Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
areas from one non American ma
ton to another American ma
ton.
Sets Continental Policy.
The meaning of this, of course, is
that transfer of title of British.
French, Dutch and Danish possess
sions in America to Germany would
be opposed by the United States.
In this the resolution contains the
essence OF the Monroe Doctrine.
But, illustrating the sort of diplo-
macy we are playing in Latin
America, the resolution has another
section which removes the old sting
IN the Monroe Doctrine which the
American republics found distaste-
full The Monroe Doctrine was a
policy of the United States alone.
The Bloom-Pittman resolution sets
forth continental, New World
policy:
IF such transfer or attempt to
transfer should appear likely, the
United States shall, In addition to
other measures, Immediately consult
with other American republics to
determine upon steps which should
be taken to safeguard their COM
mon interests"
The areas in the scope of this
resolution include the Danish Is
land of Greenland. colonial islands
IN the West Indies, Bermuda. the
Bahamas. British Honduras, French,
British and Dutch Guiana on the
South American mainland and the
Falkland Islands in the Atlantic
off Argentina, as we'll as Newfound-
land and Canada and the fishing
islands of st. Pierre and Miquelon.
Vital to Canal Defense.
Since most of these geographical
areas are around the Caribbean Sea,
they are important in the defense
of the Panama Canal. The ques-
ton of disposal of the European
owned islands has brought the sug-
gestion here that the United States
assume possession of them. The
second conference of the Caribbean
few days ago brought forth diff
ferent proposed Solution-inde-
pendence of all European colonies
in the hemisphere with joint man
date of the 81 American republics
over those freed colonies apparently
incapable of complete self-rule.
The Caribbean and the colonies
constitute one problem. The fifth
columns" constitute another. One
purpose served by fifth column ac-
tivity in South America has been
to ween the nations away from
political rapport with Germany. So
In a way, regarding the matter
strictly pragmatically, the fifth
column activity in countries like
Uruguay, which always went slow
In demonstrations of fondness for
the United States, is valuable to us.
The fifth column engenders a ma
tional distaste for the nation in
whose behalf the fifth column is
working-Germany.
Kindness With q Purpose.
The chief characteristic of the
present American diplomacy toward
Latin America is considerateness.
This country bends over backwards
IN being kind-although it can be
stern when it feels sterness u valu-
able and necessary-to the neiNh-
bors. 1t is kindness with a purpose.
Last week we arranged q loan of