Evening star., 1940-12-08

Reinforcement of the good neighbor
policy governing inter-American official
relations through positive action to in
crease mutual understanding by the
peoples of North and South America is
rapidly shaping up as fundamental
part of the hemisphere defense program.
Encouraging progress in enlisting the
aid of movie, radio, press, art education
and business leaders and public officials
generally in concerted efforts to make
the Americas better acquainted is re-
ported by Nelson A. Rockefeller, the
Government self-styled "catalyst" in
this field.
The 32-year-old second son of John D.
Rockefeller, jr., is contributing his serv-
ices to the Government as co-ordinator
of commercial and cultural relations be-
tween the American republics for the
Council of National Defense. He sees his
job as that of an agent to accelerate to-
ward common goal the efforts of the
many and diverse public and private in
terests working toward greater inter-
American understanding and economic
cooperation
Pointing out That the total war" in
Europe, with the techniques of totaI-
tartan propaganda being used in con-
junction with military and economic
forces, presents a new kind of threat
to the Americas, Mr.. Rockefeller ex-
plains:
New Kind of Threats.
Neither armies nor navies are able
to resist propaganda attacks by ether
waves, subsidized international news
services and documented foreign films.
These attacks shamelessly take full ad-
vantage of the freedom of speech and
press which is basic to our democratic
institutions They seek to spread mis-
understanding among the Americas, to
defeat democracy by subtle ridicule, and
to induce free peoples to accept An alien
theology as the means of realizing ulti-
mate economic security
Insisting that to combat this challenge
our only weapon is truth" Mr. Rookie
feller admits that realization of truth
for the Americas will be difficult and
the barriers many" but he is confident
that the barriers will be overcome.
II is to attack what he terms the bar
riers to understanding" among the
Americas that Mr.. Rockefeller and his
assistants-many OF them, like himself,
"dollar-a-year" men-are mobllizing all
of the Nations cultural resources in CO.
operation with leaders of private enter
prise in various fields and with leaders
in the Latin American nations.
They are convinced that as the people
of this country and those of Central and
South America come to know and under
stand each other better, many problems
that seem TO be of more immediate and
pressing nature-such as the problems of
economic cooperation with which Mr..
Rockefeller is especially concerned as
co-ordinator of commercial activities
will become easier and easier to solve.
Languages Are Barriers.
Chief among the barriers to under
standing" of course, is the matter of
language. Appeals are being made to es-
tablish Spanish or Portuguese as a sec
ond language" in North America. with
tlle nope IfldJ EnEIlSf1 VIII become even
more widely accepted as a second lam
guage" in South America
The support of United States Mayors
has been enlisted to spread the study Of
Spanish in the schools of this country.
Group study of the language by women S
and other organizations is being encour-
aged. Henry A. Wallace, Vice President
elect, has set an example by learning
Spanish himself
Both Government funds and those of
private institutions like the Guggenheim
Foundation are being used to increase
the exchange of students and intellectual
leaders between North and South Amer
ica. American scholars are being sent to
study and lecture in various Latin Amer
lean nations; their leaders of thought
are coming here to do the same thing
Research in common agricultural and
production problems is being fostered.
The press, radio and cinema are being
used with increasing effectiveness to pro-
mote interchange of the finest in thought
and action of'both continents Through
these and other mediums, Mr.. Rookie
fnllpr insists "uo must cop,e IN kpovv III o