The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-31
Editorial Comments
From. Other Angles
HAVANA
New York Herald Tribune

When the American nations gathered last
fall to confer upon the problems presented by
the European war, the familiar tendency to-
ward politely evasive phrase making which
has characterized so many Pan-Anerlcan con-
ferences wac still heavy upon them. The re-
sultant Declaration of Panama, chiefly famous
for its remarkable invention of the 3OO-mile
chastity belt" was not an impressive docu-
ment. The Declaration of Havana, as it is now
understood to have been agreed upon by rep
resentatives of all tWenty-one states, is a very
different matter. The unity it records is>a sig
nificant unity in the face of very urgent issues.
However guardedly the texts are worded, their
implications are realistic and are likely to be
far-reaching; and it seems probable that the
Havana agreement will have a direct and
practical impact upon international affairs
quite beyond anything which has proceeded in
the past from the innocuouS rituals of Pan.
AmericanlSm.
Havana represents an important victory for
the hemisphere" policy which has formed one
cornerstone of the Presidents conduct of for
eign affairs. The measures agreed upon-for
dealing with the European colonies, the trade
problem and the Trojan. horses in the Nazl
consulates-nay be more moderate and tenta'
tive than some expected, but they may be
more practical on that account; while they do
deal, in a concrete and decisive way, with in
tensely practical issues. And beyond the actual
measures adopted, two facts stand out. The
first is the fact that they have been d%efiantly
adopted by the Latin-American representatives
in face of the confident totalitarian predictions
that the conference would fail, and in face OF
such warnings as that issued the other day by
the Nazi economics minister, Walther Funk,
that Latin America would have to come to
heel. And the second fact is the pressure for
unanimity and decision originating within the
American nations themselves. 1t was a pres
sure sufficient to overcome Argentina's legal
doubts, and to lead her to avoid a risk of iso-
lation-as she might not have done in the past
and would certainly not have done had it been
a question of United States dictation. Havana
shows Pan-Americanism coming to life as a
real and effective political force, capable OF
achieving cohesion within and boldness TOWARD
the world.
All the Latn-American states are increasing
ly aware Of the desperate dilemma being
forced upon them by the totalitarians, and the
Importance Of Havana lies in the impressive.
ness with which it records their resolve to
make their choice, so long as they are able,
for United States rather than totalitarian sup.
port and leadership. This success for United
States diplomacy is in part a fruit of the pa
tience and tact with which Secretary Hull has
cultivated the tender plant of Pan-American-
ism from the first days of his tenure; but it is
in the main, of course, the result of the hard
realities of the situation-and as such will last
only as long as the present situation can be
maintained. The hemisphere" policy is good
only so long and to the degree that it can be
made good and Havana will mean much or
little in the last analysis according to the abil.
ity of the United States in fact to protect the
hemisphere and provide it with a viable eco
nomic life. Havana is an interesting begin.
ming, but it will have to be supplemented; Pan.
Americanism is coming to life as a political
force, but it will quickly die again unless we
create the conditions for it's survival. l