The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1940-07-11
M66mqbn
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Washington, d. C.
NAILS IN SOUTH AMERICA

Observation-Disclosures vigorously
Nazi Germany is trying to under
mine the United States in Latin
America is illustrated by a secret
arms offer Hitler has just made to
sell $50, 600. 900 worth Of the latest
military weapons to Brazil.
This would include tanks, artil-
lery. flame = throwers, bombing
planes and other modern devices
with which Germany Frustrated
France-all transported to a hemi-
sphere where Pan-American nations
have been relatively at peace for
half a century.
Furthermore, Germany guaran-
tees to deliver the goods almost
immediately-via Italian ships.
1t now looks very much as if Bra
iii would accept the offer.
State department officials, togeth-
er with Gen. George Marshall, dy-
manic u. S. chief of staff, are pull
ing every possible wire to prevent
the purchase, but they are having
a hard time. They are offering to
sell American military equipment
instead. However, the Brazilians
point out that because of cheap Nazi
wages it would take 5000, 900, 900 to
buy the same material here where
costs are much higher. Further
more, Hitler is willing to accept COT
fee and other Brazilian surplus prod
ucts in a barter deal. No real cash
is involved.
Finally, the Brazilians say they
bought some artillery from the
United States recently, but it was
World war stuff, and they had to
spend So, 900 for repairs on each gun.
The German munitions, on the other
hand, are virtually new.
General Marshall made a special
flight to Brazil last year to get &C
quainted with the Brazilian army,
and later piloted General Goes Mon
teiro, Brazilian chief of staff, all
over the United States. However, all
this goodwilling doesn't seem to
count today. At least 40 per cent of
the Brazilian army is reported to
be pro-Nazi.
Note-Meanwhile the state depart
ment moves with tragic slowness to
counteract Nazi activity in South
America. Three years ago it set up
a Cultural Relations bureau to cul.
tivate Latin America, but its &C.
tivity to date is minus zero.
Mining Panama Waters.
The navy may not admit it, but
the secret reason for suddenly min
ing the waters around the Panama
canal was the sighting Of two sub
marines off the Pacific side of the
canal.
They were sighted by an army
aviator, who was not able to dis.
tinguish their nationality. Since no
U. S. submarines were in that vicin-
ity. the army and navy both were
convinced they must be Japanese.
Obviously it would be difficult for
German submarines to get into Pa
cific waters.
Another factor which has our navy
command worried was that last
week, while part of the Japanese
fleet left for French Indo-China, an
other part left for an unnamed des-
tination off into the Pacific.
1t is suspected that the Japanese
may be paying a visit to Chile, per-
haps stopping en- route at the Gala
pages islands, which the United
States is now trying to lease for a
naval base to protect the Panama
canal.
Another reason is the fear that
Hitler, having secured part of the
French fleet, might pool forces with
the Italians latter the end of the
British campaign and make a foray
into American Atlantic waters. With
part Of the Japanese feet simultane-
ously in Chilean waters, the problem
of defense would be difficult.
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