Evening star., 1940-08-04

hoped on the bandwagon too late. These
diplomats tried to convince the people
in South America that even If Germany
were to take over the possessions of
France and Great Britain In the West
ern Hemisphere, none of the Latin Amer
leans could lose by this transfer of flags.
On the contrary their best customers
would become neighbors and untold
blessings would result from this neigh
borliness. These were the handicaps
which Mr.. Hull had to overcome. He was
confronted for several days with the
same question from the wheat, cotton
and cattle producing countries of che
South American continent: What are
we going to do with our crops and cattle
If Great Britain is defeated and we can.
not sell the main staple of our country
to Europe? You in the United States
neither need nor want our stuff.
Election Immediate Factor.
The delegates of the republics OF
South America had to be told that on
the eve of presidential election in the
United States no pledge could be given
to them that the drastic measures for
the protection of the American farmer
could be removed. But things are chang
ing fast these days and maybe in the
fall-if the totalitarian menace becomes
more notwithstanding could be
done to remove the existing offensive re-
strictions. In the meantime, enough
| money has been placed to the credit Of
the Export-Import Bank in Washing
ton to meet the immediate requirements
| OF all the South American republics for
| at least six months. The main thing at
| this time was not the matter of the
| surplus OF raw materials, but close CO.
operation to prevent the axis from hoist
ing its flag over any of our neighbors.
Despite the high esteem which most
| Of the chiefs of armies have for the
| achievements of the German forces, the
political leaders of the 20 republics agreed
to prevent any change in the status quo
and have given Uncle Sam what
amounts to a mandate to take charge
of this matter.
In the event of a British defeat at the
| hands of Germany, nobody here worries
! any longer over the defense of the Carib-
bean and the Panama Canal Machinery
can be set in motion in less than "a
hours to install detachments of our
marines in the French-owned islands
If many more husky tourists" with bad
French accents arrive in Martinique, the
marines and the sailors of the United
States Navy will be in a position to
handle the situation without drawing
this country into a conflict with the
Latin-American republics.
| Must Hasten Arms.
This diplomatic victory so essential to
the safety of the United States calls for
substantial Fastening of the rearma-
ment program. Should the German
prophecy that the European war will be
ended by the middle of September prove
correct, the situation may become COM
plex. The United States aviation force,
although it has the advantage of being
based close to its objectives, still is
numerically inferior to the German
Italian air force. Should the British
Empire be overcome by the masses of
! German-Italian planes, the position of
The United States might be precarious
unless war preparations are actually be-
ing put into effect. Britain has appro-
priated billions for national defense since
1886, yet when the war broke out the
British Empire had mostly paper units in
the air and on land. With this paper"
| preparation Britain and France promised
security to almost every nation in Europe.
When it came to actual facts, the former
allies failed lamentably.
To certain extent the same situation
exists here now; the burden of the de-
tense of the Americas rests upon the
shoulders of Uncle Sam. 1t Is true that
huge military, naval and air program
has been approved by Congress. But at
present no time limit dictated by real
haste has been placed on the production
of these goods And now, besides the de-
tense of the shores of the United States.
we also have to think of the protection
of our neighbors.