The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-13
THURSDAY, MARCH 10. ls41
pIILIING AMERICAS TooETHER


PULLING AMERICAS TOGETHER
A virtual military defensive al
lance between the United States
and Mexico will be concluded II
in return for the right to use Mex
lean naval, air ana land bases In
case OF an foreign threat OF at
tack 10 either country, the United
States government helps finance
the development of modern, ade-
quate bases in Mexico.
The American government also
is prepared to arm, feed and clothe
Mexico if il ever should become
necessary TO do so In the interests
of American national defense.
Announcement that formal nego-
tiations will be inaugurated III
Washington shortly for the con
clusion OF a mutual defense agree
ment is made by the State De
partmeRt.
The negotiations will be conduct
ed by the military, naval ana air
attaches of the Mexican embassy
and American War, Navy and AIR
Force experts.
The American government wants
Mexico to develop naval and air
bases along lower California and
on the Mexican mainland in the
neighborhood OF Manzanillo and
the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The gov
eminent also would like TO see
Mexico develop a strong air base
in Yucatan dominating the Gulf OF
Mexico.
United States moves for joint de-
Tense plans with Panama and Mex
leo lead TO predictions that a com
prehensive plan OF hemisphere de-
Tense will be forthcoming soon
Successful consumation of de-
Tense plans with Panama and Mex
leo would tend to eliminate the
most difficult obstacles in the
path of a program for all the Amer
icas. The internal political situa-
ticns in Panama and Mexico, here
tofore, have not been considered
conducive TO projects requiring
close cooperation with the United
States.
Announcement by President
Arnulfo Arias OF Panama that the
United States would be granted air
and anti-air defense bases outside
the Canal Zone is an Important step
toward a coordinated hemisphere
defense plan. Negotiations look
ing toward such plan began
shortly after the Havana meeting
o. American foreign ministers last
July.
Ii was under an agreement
reached at the, Havana meeting
that the United States and Mexico
recently began discussions OF a
joint defense program.
Other Central American repub-
lies have been unanimous in CO
operation with the United States
defense plans. costo Rica has
offered the United States the use
OF the Cocos Islands in the Pacific
Ocean. possible outposts for the
Pacific approach TO the Panama
Canal.
Nicaragua has offered all OF its
facilities for coordinated defense
efforts and urged construction OF
all alternative canal route through
its territory.
Guatemala has offered all de-
Tense facilities. Its very modern
air field one OF the hest on the
continent, is now used by T.. s.
Army planes flying TO the canal
FL Salvador. Honduras. Haiti and
Dominican Republic have offered
their airfields and promised cooper
alton
Less groundwork has been done
in South America, but Venezuela,
the country that offered the Ha-
vana defense resolution, has
pledged its cooperation. It. has
been worried about the nearby
Dutch islands OF Aruba and Cur.
acao, foreseeing the possibility that
a belligerent might seize them.
Chile is cooperative but Is hold
ing to strict neutrality in contrast
with the non-belligerency OF some
Of its neighbors. Difficulties may
be encountered in Ecuador and
Peru as result OF their long
standing boundary dispute. Neither
nation appears 10 want the Galapa-
gos Islands, belonging TO Ecuador.
converted into a naval base
Brazil IS handling its deienses
INDEPENDENTLY. It has been con
sulting with Argentina and Eru-
quay on defense Of the Rich River
Platte approaches.