The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-09-11

individual Yankees, or groups OF
EN-, tour the southern republics,
provided they're the right kind Of
chaps TO advertise US satisfactorily.
Individual Yankees generally are
o. X. They go, ordinarily, because
they've some personal interest IN
making a good impression, perhaps
speak a bit OF Spanish, Portuguese
or both, and, maybe, already more
or less understand the tempera-
mental characteristics Of the peo-
pie they're travelling among.
Our groups aren't invariably
such desirable missionaries. They
are recruited largely by tourist
agencies, for such agencies own
financial benefit rather than be-
cause Of the recruits suitability as
representatives OF us below the Rio
Grande. The agencies naturally
are badly put to 1t TO find custo-
mers, with European conditions
what they are today, and scrabble
hard to steer 'em southwark, as the
only place left for 'em to go, What
these crowds want essentially is
nothing but a rip-snorting good
time. A lot of EN-, the Rockefeller
outfit is tipped off, in effect are
Stunning parties"
Europe, in olden days, was
equipped TO provide the varieties
Of amusements that such hoodlums
sought, made money out Of iem and
was glad to have EN- come. Latin
America, however, doesn't seem to
be altogether appreclative Of being
Summed" 1t may get used to it
in time, and, like olden Europe,
turn it to its own financial account,
but it hasn't the facilities to make
1t profitable yet.
It considerably perturbs the
Rockefeller aggregation at present.
Wallace and Welles
Vice President Henry A. Wal
lace and Undersecretary Of State
Sumner Welles are two OF the gov
ernment's Latin-American experts,
but they have too many other
things on their hands to permit
them TO concentrate on that part
OF the world just now. An occa-
sional glance is all they can spare
it, with the senate, Europe, Ice
land, Japan, Dakar, the French
West Indies and the Dutch East
Indies clamoring for attention.
Henry doubtless speaks better
Spanish than Sumner. Henry
studied it and talks it according to
Hoyle. Sumner simply picked his
up. He did it, though. by actually
living in South America and Cuba,
and, quite likely, knows the people
better than Henry, who never, so
far as 1 ever heard got beyond a
short stay in Mexico.
Another thing, these birds ought
to learn Portuguese, too. The two
languages are not very different.
It's more a matter OF spelling than
anything else. A Spanish scholar
should be able TO master Portu-
guese easily as a side line. Never
theless it makes a Brazilian sore
to learn that a foreigner has gone
out OF his way to learn Spanish,
while disregarding Portuguese,
which said Brazilian considers the
main thing.
I once knew IN Buenos Aires
spanish speaking) an English
man, George Gibbs, who previously
had spent years in Brazil. One
day a visiting Brazilian called on
us in connection with a matter
that we were triangularly interest
ed in. Knowing George for Brit
on but not being very familiar with
English. the guy asked, do you
speak Spanish ?" NO" said
George, but speak Portuguese"
That Brazilian instantly fell on his
neck with Joy. George could have
had anything he wanted from him,
since he didn't know Spanish but
did know Portuguese.
Fairbanks Trip
The Rockefeller crew got deal
OF valuable information from Doug
las Fairbanks, Jr., whom they con-
scripted for trip to South Amer
lea, 70 size up the situation. He
told EN- lot about our Stunning
parties"
! e Three Of our really dyed-in-the-