Evening star., 1941-05-04

l. ington that is greater than the Euro
pean war, 1t is the concern over Latin
America and the betterment of relations
with the countries large and small that
lie south of the border. From President
on down, official Washington is thinking
hard and working late on the problem of
how to achieve real and lasting unity
with the other Americas.
No one is under any illusion that this
is merely matter of passing out a few
millions in loans. When they talk
frankly, the top officials acknowledge
that we shall be lucky if we are able to
hold firm continental line, encouraging
truly democratic elements and prevent
ing the axis minoritieS from gaining
power
First of all, it is necessary to contribute
to the stability of Latin American econ
omy. And this means keeping ship lines
running in spite of the tremendous de-
mands on shipping implied in the aid
to-Britain program. 1t means supplying
Latin America with manufactured goods
in spite of the enormous pressure on
the American economy for our own de-
fense as well as for British war needs.
Wrestling with these problems Is
young man of 33, Nelson Aldrich Rookie
feller, one of John D., jr.s, boys. His
title is co-ordinator of commercial and
cultural relations between the American
republics. But his day-to-day job in
these troubled times is to try to keep
ships running to South America and
to keep hard-p pressed defense executives
from asserting priorities over steel and
machines that have been ordered for
Brazil, the Argentine and Mexico.
Many Experts Aid.
Mr.. Rockefeller has gathered around
him many business executives. He has
also enlisted experts in various cultural
fields. They are working with the Pan
American Union, which on a limited
budget has built up over the years
vast amount of knowledge of the Amer
icas to the south; with the State De-
partment. which has its own ancient
ties with Latin America with the De-
partment of Agriculture in the begin
nings o1 an experimental program to
grow rubber and other tropical products
now coming from the East; with the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce and with various assorted private
groups and individuals. This article is
an attempt to appraise what has been
done so far and to consider the prob
abilities for the future.
The background on Mr.. Rockefeller's
appointment eight months ago is inter-
esting because it reveals the complex
forces involved in the effort to come to
terms with Latin America. twas Harry
l.. Hopkins, the Presidents right-hand
man, who got Mr.. Rockefeller his ap-
pointment as co-ordinator Mr. Hopkins
knew and admired the young man who
had had not little to do with promot-
ing Rockefeller Center in New York.
What is more, bringing him into the
Government fitted in with one of Mr..
Hopkins favorite benefs-that young
men of wealth and intelligence can be
converted to the liberal ideals of Mr..
Hopkins hero, F. D. R. He wanted to
bring his friend Mr.. Rockefeller into the
New Deal camp.
Strong opposition came from the State
Department, particularly from Undersec-
retary of State Sumner Welles. Partly,
of course. this grew out of jealous re-
gard for State Department prerogatives.
But also Mr.. Welles and others felt that
Mr. Rockefeller would be gravely handi-
capped, first, by his lack of specialized
background of knowledge and, second, by
his name itself, which in Latin America
carries strong overtones of the old dollar
diplomacy. Mr.. Hopkins won the day
and Mr.. Rockefeller was named CO.
ordinator last August.
Expected Skepticism Apparent.
Certainly his name has been handi-
cap. The reaction in Latin America,
where United States moves are under
strong suspicion in any event, was not
good. There is a persistent skepticism
south of the border as to the objectives
and achievements of the co-ordinator's
office to date And this is true of certain
high Government officials here in WASH
ington, although they are careful not to
thp poreion C,Jl1f-ulhinI iS thp S0Vipt'S