The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-07


lean Republics, which recently
took place In colorful Havana,
got off to a rather discouraging
start. Secretary Hull made a
fortnight speech, in which he
called upon the nations of this
hemisphere to band solidly to-
gether in commercial and mill
tary ties, to oppose European ag-
erosion of any kind. MIR. Hull
also roundly castigated European
dictators for their ruthless at
tacks on small, practically de-
fenseleSs states, intimating that
might happen South of the Rio
Grande unless unity is achieved.
Most of the Latin American for
eign ministers present, paid Lip
service to this doctrine. But
there were strong Inducements
of diSSension. In many cases,
South American economic inter
ests come into direct conflict
with ours, and South American
business was afraid It would get
the short end of the stick if the
Hull program were adopted in
toto. On top of that, the Axis
powers have unquestionably
made serious inroads into Latin
America. Certain countries, not
ably Brazil, have been largely
settled by Germans, and Hitler's
agents have been working for
years to convert them to the Nazi
theology. All of South America
is, of course, of Latin origin,
and Spanish and Italian influence
es are strong. Italy is an active
German ally, and Franco-dictat-
ed Spain is Hitler's passive ally.
However, it looks as if the ma
jority of Latin American govern
ments are genuinely afraid of
Axis activity, and are determin-
ed to remain Republics. So, at
the end, they came at least half
way to agreeing with proposed
U. S. policy. After endless hours
of talk, negotiation and concilia-
ton, the 81 foreign ministers
present, agreed upon a three
point policy of far-reaching sig
nificance AS reported by j. C..
Stark, Alp man on the scene, the
points provide:
1. The status of European
| possessions in this hemisphere is
of vital concern to all the Re
publics, and if necessary they
will be temporarily taken over
and administered by the Repub-
/ lies in order to safeguard contin-
entail security. This is a direct
slap in the face to any ambition
Hitler may have to seize English
and French possessions in our
part of the world, and amounts
to Latin American avowal and
support of the Monroe Doctrine
+ 2. An economic plan is to be
prepared whereby relief is to be
I given to countries which have
lost vital European markets. AT
+ the same time. an inter-American
trading system is to be developed
+ in order to prevent European
states from enforcing unfair
trade terms upon the American
nations.
/ 3. ALI the Republics will
work together in fighting fifth
column" activities. Alleged abuse
of diplomatic privilege by foreign
representatives is to be inveSti-
( gated. This is also a direct slap
at Hitler-German conSuls and
other officials have been among
the worst offenders, and have
used their offices almost openly
to promote trouble. Germans
have boosted that it is within
their power to produce revo1u-
tons within half a dozen Latin
. American countries whenever de-
sired.
i In all this the United States
will be the leader. It will have
/ to put up most of the money to
back any trade, cartel or other
economic plan, and if military
(. action becomes necessary it will
have to provide practically all of
the ships, soldiers, airplanes and
guns. From a military point of
view. Latin America is extremely
weak, and so are most of the Re-
publicS from the economic point
of view. And that brings up a
question that is being increasing
ly asked these days: Is the Unit
ed States embarked upon an i'm
perial policy? -
Only time can answer that. but
a good guess is ''yes'l We have
always made a fetish of opposi-
ton TO imperialism-even as, at
times, we have ruthlesSly follow
ed the traditional imperial path
of conquest. And in these dis
| cordant DAYS. ii may be that i'm
perialism is being forced upon
us. whether we like it or not.
Most experts are convinced that
we must maintain the status quo,
or a policy favorable to US, in
Latin America, no matter what
the cost. Give the Axis real
strength there thew cav and we