Evening star., 1940-07-21
Weakness Found
In Germun Armor
By Owen L. Scott.

1t has taken President Roosevelt to
discover and to start to exploit the weak
spot In the armor Of Germany That
weak spot is . dependence upon the
products Of the, Western Hemisphere
for the construction Of any kind Of new
Europe that Hitler may now contem-
plate.
How great is this dependence is meas
ured by the growls and threats that HIT
ler's agents are directing at the Pam
American conference at Havana. Mr..
Roosevelt is proposing through this con-
ference that the United States be per-
mitted to help individual nations of
this hemisphere to cooperate in mar
keting surplus products 50 that Ger
many may not be able to utilize her
characteristic methods Of exploitation.
The German technique is to use mo-
nopoly buying to make smaller nations
dependent upon her and then to use
threats of check to this buying to
squeeze political concessions from the
sellers.
There is no assurance that Latin
America will be interested In the Ameri-
can idea. There are many signs that
the nations involved are frightened by
German threats and are skeptical of
American strength. But the mere posi-
bility that the nations of this hemi-
sphere might act in concert and might
prepare to resist German exploitation
served to produce the most vigorous dip
lomatic action by Germany.
The reason is. that Hitler may gain
the whole of Europe and still be in trou-
BILE. That Europe, even with Africa
added in, cannot feed and clothe itself.
1t lacks vital raw materials for its in
dustries. In spite of any effort to make
slave labor out of the population of
conquered territories. production costs
will be relatively high unless ways can
be found to obtain cheap raw materials.
So after seven years Of extreme effort
and suffering the German people will
have succeeded by conquest in gathering
together q prize collection of problems
and difficulties.
The one real answer to Hitlers prob
lem Is found in Latin America. In that
area are the raw materials-the food
stuf1s, fibers, minerals-that he must
have. There. too, are the areas that lie
wide open to colonization by an ex-
panding Germany. 1t is in Latin Amer
lea that the last great frontier exists,
waiting for removal through construc-
ton of roads and railroads and ports
and cities and industries. Even with
out that frontier Hitler still won't have
his living room. but will have the prob
lem OF showing the German people some
tangible reward for their sacrifices of
recent years.
President Roosevelt is acutely aware
Of all Of this. He knows that If the Ger
mans are to be restrained from deep
penetration into this hemisphere, then
the United States itself must see that
hemisphere development is carried for
ward. His thought is that this develop
nient might be carried forward with the
cooperation of the nations Of the hemi-
sphere. 1t is obvious. however, that If
this cooperation is not forthcoming
the United States might be compelled
to use flrmer methods to make sure that
Hitler doesn't have his way.
The meaning of all this is that the
German victory in Europe will be an
empty victory unless it opens the way
to free access to this hemisphere. But
the United States stands across the path
OF Germany seeking that access, ex-
cept on fair terms that involve no at
tempt to use economic pressure to gain
political concessions. This country, as
Mr.. Roosevelt sees it, must make sure
that the Germans do not utilize their
trade to wangle out of Latin American
nations new rights to establish German
air lines and bases and to bring in Ger
man military equipment and German
instructors for Latin American armies.
If there is to be a development of this
kind the United States will insist upon
doing the developing.
1t is here that German and American
interests are going to clash when the
war IN Europe is ended
That clash of interests will be real
and deep-seated. An end to the war in
Europe will make it more apparent. At
that time the United States will need to
be prepared to take its stand and to
deal with any threats that may come
from Europe. Preparations under way
here are geared to that basis. They are
not designed to place the United States
in the war abroad. They are not carried
out merely for fun nor out of fear. They
are pointed to the particular situation
that will confront this Nation once Hit
Ter has done his conquering abroad and
Is in need of the things this hemisphere
can give him in order that he may try
to raise the living standard of his people.
The two factors that will determine
whether Hitler can carry out the
projects he has in mind for Latin Amer
lea are sea power and air power.
Here, of course, there enters the cues.
ton of the fate that is to befall the
British fleet if England is forced to
capitulate. But, potentially, the United
States is the worlds greatest sea and
air power. This country's capacity for
production of warships and warplanes-
IT really tested-can put that of Ger
many far into the shade.