Evening star., 1940-08-18
i. S. Retreat in Pacific Forecast
When Western Dangers Erupt
Squeeze Play by Oriental and European Ends
of Axis Shaping Up, With Americas
Defenses Decrepit at Critical Time
Bv Constantine BrOwn.

bill authorizing the President to send
the National Guard to preserve order in
the Western Hemisphere, is a further
inducement to stick close to the United
States.
But whether they vii. be able to resist
the pressure from within is another
question. Most of the products of the
LatinAmerican countries, with the ex-
ception of coffee, bananas and a few
other raw materials, are competitive
with those of the United States. They
are, however, in great demand in Europe
today and are likely to continue to be so
for a number of years.
Uprisings Possibility.
While the intelligentsia in the principal
Latln-Amerlcan countries realize the ad-
vantage of continuing the present system
Of economics and politics, it would be
difficult to convince the gaucho in Ar
gentina or the small cotton planter in
Brazil that it is to his advantage not to
sell these products to Germany or Italy.
II the totalitarian viewpoint is we'll
driven into their minds by the swarming
agents OF the Reich and Italy, an up
rising Is more than probable within a
few weeks after the war in Europe is
ended. Secretary of War Stimson and
Chief Of Staff Gen. Marshall are inclined
to think that it will happen in October.
II one of these uprisings is successful the
contamination will be rapid. Hence the
necessity for the United States to meet
its obligations toward the sister repub.
lies and be ready to rush forces to put
down any attempt to change by revolu-
ton the present governments of South
America
IN ordinary times marines would have
htted into the picture perfectly Now,
1t is believed the coups detat will be so
much better organized and led that they
Will no longer present a question of a
few thousand blue jackets and marines
but of real expeditionary force. Fur
thermore, the administration is fully
aware of all the implications OF such
an action. The effect of dispatching such
a force-with an eventual intervention
by the totalitarian states to protect their
nationals and sympa pathizers-depends
largely on what happens to Great Brit
ain and, in particular. to the British
fleet
This incertitude renders the Pacific
fleet powerless. 1t is known in Washing
ton-the latest reports of Ambassador
Joseph Grew from Toxic have made 1t
quite clear-that as result of the latest
agreement between Japan and Germany,
the Japanese government is now sending
an expeditionary force TO the Dutch
East Indies and to the Straits Settle
ments, despite the repeated warnings of
the American Government that It Will
not tolerate the change of the status
quo Of those possessions of Great Britain
and the Netherlands. Toxic knows now
that the japanese navy runs no risk of
encountering the American Fleet in the
Southern Pacific.
Washington Deeply Disturbed.
That fleet may be called to assist the
United States land forces at almost any
time and cannot afford to 70 too far
away from the main base in Hawaii. But
the prospect of the capture of the richest
Islands in the world-the Malayan
Archipelago-is deeply disturbing In
Washington. In spite Of its connota-
tions-a japan which will be able to cut
of our rubber supply and eventually
undersell the American manufacturer in
all sections of the globe-the Govern
ment of this country is compelled to re-
main an impassive observer
Three years ago this action Of the
japanese could have been prevented with
practically no losses. Three years hence
1t might be preventd again-with serious
losses. Today Uncle Sans hands in the
Pacific are tied. This country can no
longer have an improvised foreign policy
OF talking lot and doing nothing. II
must choose between preserving the
Western Hemisphere as it's exclusive
hunting ground or dabbling in the
Pacific.
The decision has been taken: The
preservation of the Western Hemisphere
if possible, without the achievement of
Japan's southern expansion. But to i'm
plement that decision 1t is necessary for
this country to make tremendous and
costly effort. Rearmament these days Is
no longer a joke or political football.
There is serious possibility of the
United States being squeezed between
the two ends of the Axis A policy of COM
promise at the present time seems pos
sible to this administration only if this
country makes up its mind to follow the
economic and, by necessity, social prin-
ciples established by Hitler and Musso-
lini.