Evening star., 1940-07-21
Argentines Don't Like u. S.,
But Feeling Is Changing Now
Need for More Personal Contact Urged
To Offset Harm Done by Yankee Businessmen

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Mr.. Edgerton Is touring South
America as guest OF Pan
American AtrUays. His articles,
sent by mail. ,DiH be published as
they are received. This is the
ninth OF q series.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Star Aviation Editor.
BUENOS AIRES. Argentina (By
| AirmaiD Although there has been
little liking on the part of the aver
age Argentine citizen for the United
| States, a considerable change in
feeling today is becoming manifest
and the chances for establishing a
real and lasting basis of friendship
between the two nations probably
are better right no wthan at any
time in history.
Argentine leaders are very frank
and outspoken on the subject OF re-
lationship between their country
and the United States. They feel
that only through frankness and a
disposition to meet and discuss
mutual problems without evasion or
reservation can the peoples of the
two republics be brought together.
There is urgent need for more
than a mere economic. political or
military agreement between Argen-
tina and the United States. I was
told informally by one of the leading
men in the Argentine government,
an of1icial who has been in the
United States and knows the people
and problems OF both countries very
we'll.
There is need for q personal
understanding and mutual liking
and respect which is based on the
freest possible educational and cul-
tural interchange.
Don't Like Americans.
Il will tell you quite frankly that
my people do not like the United
States" he said. They do not
understand your people. They do
admire your form of government
and your institutions and that is
proved by the fact that our consti-
tuition and form of government
follow your pattern perhaps more
closely than any other in the world.
But our people do not know and
appreciate your people. They do
not know that you have any cultural
background. that you love music,
the opera, the arts. They only know
the Yankee as a businessman whose
methods cannot always be admired"
The best method of bringing about
understanding between the Argen-
tines and the North Americans,
many leaders here believe, would be
q free interchange of students and
teachers in the colleges and univer-
sites of the two countries. The
Offering of scholarships in United
States schools and colleges on a
more general basis. as has been done
by British and other European uni
versities and individuals, to South
American students probably would
have far-reaching and exceedingly
beneficial results, it is believed
here.
| 1AVVtS Vl NAVVhVo ASOus
1--WE see and like motion pictures
from the United States, but their
effects are not always fortunate"
I was told. I'VE see in your Aims
beautiful buildings occupied by
people who are not so good. When
we go to the United States we find
that the buildings may not be so
beautiful or as clean as they are in
the movies, but that the people are
much better than those we see on
the screen.
THE motion picture might be used
as great cultural medium. Instead,
the effects are not good. They could
be very much improved"
Relationships between the United
States and Argentina also would be
greatly improved If those in the
United States would take more pains
to make visitors from the Argentine
feel at home and as though they
are wanted. The South American
who goes to the United States with
out working knowledge of the
language is lost, it was pointed out.
There is no one, almost literally,
except the police to whom they can
turn for assistance
On the other hand. the United
States visitor to South America ex-
poets, and almost invariably finds,
not only some one who speaks Eng
lish. but in that person one who is
willing to go out of the way to bs
helpful and friendly. English Is
spoken in all hotels and in almost
every store of any size in every large
city, United States money can be
changed into currency of the land
with no formality or difnculty. The
whole attitude, even in the Argen-
tine, where, Is we were told, the
United States u the least liked and
appreciated, is one Of friendliness
and cooperation to the visitor.
Sources ef Friction.
As to commerce, there are q Num-
Der of sources Of friction between
Argentina and the United States.
Both countries produce In quanti-
ties basically the same kinds Of COM
modities, particularly such products
Of the soil as beef and wheat. There
Is feeling that Uncle Sam desires
70 unload" on the Argentine far
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