Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-14
Havana Parley's Success Hinges
Largely on US. Military Power
Results for Hulls Pleas Held Dependent on
Satisfying Latin Americas That We Are to<1
Able to Protect Them
By Constantine Broom.

On July 20 the senior Secretary Of
State Of the American republics will
open the conference Of the 81 sister re-
publics of Havana.
Cordeu Hull, our dignified silver-haired
Secretary Of State, hopes he will find in
the Cuban capital 81 Siamese sisters
with one heart and one mind. The con-
ference will undoubtedly be the most i'm
portant gathering ever held In this hem
isphere. Ballyhoo win not he the order
Of the day. Grandiloquence and beauti-
full gestures will be out Of place. Mr..
Hull believes the wolf is at the gates Of
the Western Hemisphere and he sees no
room for empty speeches and equally
empty resolutions.
But will the representatives of the re-
public south Of the Rio Grande accept
the ideas Of Mr.. Hull as being perfectly
fitted to the economic and political con-
ditions Of Latin America? This is
question which nobody can answer yet
and 1t is doubtful whether it will be
answered after the conference is over.
How representative the delegates Of the
various republics will be is equally diff
ficult to say. Major developments in the
leading southern republics will make it
dinncult for the leaders to leave their re-
spective capitals.
This writer met the former Emperor
Halle Selassie Of Ethiopia back in 1920
in Cairo. He was escorted by eight
Rases, then the most powerful political
leaders of the country. When asked why
he took all these big wigs to Europe with
him, Selassie answered, with twinkle in
his eye: If had left only one of them
behind might have found no kingdom
upon my return"
This seems to apply to some of the
South American nations, too The lead
ers cannot take all their political rivals
to Havana; hence many of them are
staying home.
In the Lap Of the Gods.
In spite of this, the discussions are 60
Ing to be heated and extremely i'm
portant; whether any definite action will
be taken rests in the lap of the gods.
The agenda will be crowded, but the
most important talks will be in executive
sessions between individuals. The para
mount question of these talks will be the
safety of the Western Hemisphere.
The United States Government, which
believes it speaks, in this particular in
stance, for an overwhelming majority of
the public, is willing to guarantee the
territorial integrity of its sister republics
against any aggression from outside. It
is tall order, indeed, but the present
voluminous rearmament program is now
aimed at such an eventuality.
In fact, in some military and political
quarters in Washington it is said that
the Latin American republics need not
overburden their budgets with extraor-
binary ornaments. The United States
will eventually have enough to meet any
emergency from Europe or Asia, and the
shores Of both Americas could be more
efhciently defended by q United States
Navy and air force than by the various
individual republics All that is needed
from the sister republics is their unques-
tionable goodwill and whole hearted CO.
operation.
European Possessions.
The question Of the European posses
sions In the Western Hemisphere will be
prominent on the agenda. This Is q par
ticularly ticklish matter.
Mr. Hull has made it plain to the world
that the United States will not tolerate
any transfer Of flag from one nation to
another in this part of the world. The
nations which had planted their flags on
various parts Of the Americas before the
Monroe Doctrine was enunciated nat
urally have the right to keep what they
possess. But the present administration
hopes to develop formula which will
protect us against transfers as a result
Of the present European war and those
for which the seeds are being sown.
This country Is particularly interested
in the defense Of the Panama Canal, and
the Caribbean Islands form the first line
Of defense. There are two strategically
important islands which are at this time
French possessions: Guadeloupe and
Martinique. The Navy Department would
like to see the Stars and Stripes fly over
Fort de France in the latter. Until Ger
many makes some move to OCCUPY these
two French possessions, either directly or
indirectly, there will be no interference
on the part of the American armed
forces.
The British, however, are more sus-
picious and fear German coup in con-
nivance with the Petain-Laval govern
ment. They would like to forestall any
attempt at trickery. The State Depart
ment. however, is firm in its policies and