Evening star., 1941-03-09
Germany's Influence in Chile
Is Negligible, Editor Asserts
Colony With Less Than 10 of Total Inhabitants
Has Joined Life of Adopted .and and
Contributed to Progress
By Manuel vega.
Literary Editor Of Ell Darto Ilustrado santtaso Chile

lies existence have availed themselves
of our republican liberties, have served
the country harmoniously in accord with
our political regime and have contributed
and still contribute in an open and sin
cere manner to the general progress of
the nation One must view these things
with realism!
There are still other aspects to be
taken into account in this matter. In
times past, and for many years. we have
had pedagogic missions and German
military missions, and a great many of
our medical men of the preceding gen.
Grafton finished their studies in Ger
many after obtaining degree at the
University of Chile. Our armys uniform
was extraordinarily like that of the Ger
man Army, and it still uses the German
helmet, plastic antecedent which cer-
tain not overly scrupulous photographers
with evil intent have desired to exploit.
The discipline of our soldiers is German
discipline. There is a dash of warrior
in the men of the race-but not of con-
queror-as no one loves peace so we'll
as the people of Chile.
German Influence Wanes.
To complete this picture of general
observation, would like to add that, in
the field of education, the influence
which might be considered German"
has of late declined 1t is universally
on the wane and is being supplanted by a
tendency to take advantage of the best
from whatever source. The desire of the
directors of education could not be more
in line with logic-to take the best from
the proved experience of other places,
without having any definite country in
mind.
1t would be pointless to deny that the
foregoing facts, effectively set forth in
the above words, have awakened in
many Chilean sectors sympathy and even
admiration for the German people. We
have had no trouble with them, and
conversely, until the eve of the second
World War, Chilean exports to Germany
were greatest in volume, not taking into
account, of course, nitrate and copper.
On this problem I'm speaking with
absolute frankness. I understand the
risk of doing this in these terrible hours
for the world, and I do not wish my
thoughts to make treason of my words.
or that they be incomplete In the same
category with exposing the so-called
German influence in Chile" I must note
these other characteristics, these other
facts, which are very necessary for the
complete and just understanding of the
external situation in the political and
social development of my country.
French the Preferred Tongue.
To France and Great Britain also we
are indebted for much teaching. For
a long time up to the present our culture
continued to be of an origin and with
tendencies absolutely French. The tongue
Of Racine has been and is the preferred
language and is even obligatory, for six
years, in the institutes and national lyce-
ums. The second foreign language
taught in Chile is optional for the stu
dent-a choice between English and Ger
man-and it is fact that only minor
portion decides on the language of
Goethe. Like every civilized country in
the world, we have looked on France
as the cradle Of universal intelligence,
of spiritual currents which for ages has
contributed to a determination of the
personality of peoples. In the political
field, We have also the teachings of
France of the Third Republic, not always
adequate, unfortunately. Since 1891,
date Of the revolution which put an
end to the old presidential omnipotence,
to 1925, when the constitution of 1888
was reformed, Chile has lived through
the strangest mixtures of parliamentary
regimes. We have known and expert
enced all the vices of the French sys-
tenn and scarcely any of the virtues
of the British model. In passing, let
us say that the actual presidential gov
ernment regime is one of authority and