Evening star., 1940-08-04
Hull Gears Vests Democracies
For Speed in Onrushing Crises
Wins Great Diplomatic Victory by Securing From
= 20 Good Neighbor Republics Virtual
Mandate to Guard Hemisphere
By Constantine Brotvn.

For the first time since the refining OF
the good-neighbor policy, Pan-Amer-
ican Conference has yielded tangible
results. At Havana the delegates of the
81 American republics have, for once,
agreed to take practical steps at the first
threat from any European country with
out possessions in the Western Hemi-
sphere to plant its flag on this side of
the Atlantic.
committee representing the five
republics chiefly interested in the Ca
ribbean Sea-Brazil, Cuba, Colombia,
Venezuela and the United States-has
been delegated to act at once If any Of
the motherless possessions appear in
danger of adoption by either Herr Hitler
or Signor Mussolini. Their action will,
OF course, be predicated upon the United
States providing the necessary force
under the control of the delegates of
these republics. Token units might be
sent from each of these states to show
the unity of purpose of the Western
republics.
The TenneSsean Secretary of State.
Cordell Hull, has achieved the greatest
victory in his diplomatic career. He was
faced with difficult task since one of
the most important republics, Argentina.
was luke-Warm to any proposal of CO.
operation. Mr.. Hull's training in Con-
gress has given him a good background
to understand the sensibilities of the
politician. He used all his charm and
powers OF persuasion on the Argentine
delegation and succeeded in what most
| experts considered hopeless task.
Not Yet Completed.
To say that the entire program has
been completed would be wishful think
Ing. The economic program, which is
Intended to cut off the totalitarian states
from the American markets, must still he
developed. For the time being, the Gen.
tral and South American republics are
falling into step with the United States
because the British blockade is still
effective and, furthermore, none of the
Latin American republics can afford to
cold-shoulder the s5O0OOO,000 which the
Export-Import Bank offers to spend on
surplus raw material produced by the
20 South American republics.
What the situation would be if the
British blockade were done aWay with
and Hitler and Musoslini spread their
tenacles toward this hemisphere remains
to be seen. But the main thing-the de-
fense of the Caribbean-has been
achieved without much trouble.
The Islands of Martinique and Guade-
loupe, as well as the Guianas, are imme-
dlately involved. The Petain-Laval gov
ernment is so subservient to the Reich
that any order which Berlin may deem
advantageous to herself will be obeved
Immediately.
There have been indications that even
tually the Germans may want to use
the French possessions in the Western
Hemisphere as bases for their sub-
marines and aviation. The French air.
plane carrier the Bearn, is still in Mar
Unique, and has, besides its usual COM
plement of IS planes, over $50 Grated
American planes which it took from
Canada before Frances defeat. Under
these circumstances it is considered pos
slole that the German government. which
has already forced France to surrender
most OF its war materials and is using
french territory for military operations
against Britain, may attempt to use the
American possessions of France for
bringing the war even closer to the
American continents.
Obstacles Put in Way.
The United States Government did not
feel that it could occupy any territory
in South America without the full agree
ment of the other republics. German
and Italian diplomats have done their
utmost to prevent such an agreement.
All possible methods were used to effect
this purpose. Uncle Sam was described
as decrepit sugar daddy who could not
defend this hemisphere, should the to-
talitarlans start their drive over here.
Most OF the riparian states in the South
ern Hemisphere were warned that the
day of reckoning is bound to come soon
after Great Britain has been defeated
German commercial attaches spared
no effort to prove to the interested re-
publics that their economic destinies are
closely bound to those of Europe and
| that as soon as this war is over-prob-
ably in September, they say-there will
be tremendous demand for all the raw
materials produced in Latin America.
German diplomats, on the other hand,
warned the South Americans that Ger
many has always treated those in her
favor we'll and paid in kind those who