The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-08-14
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Real Warfare Of Dollars
Is On in South America
U. S. Wages Trade and Economic Battle
In Effort to Gust Axis Influence
From Western Hemisphere.
BY BAUKHAGE
National Farm and Home Hour Commentator.

Hour Commentator.
by the Germans in South America
The United States is now applying
similar tactics insofar as pro-AXis
business is concerned. There is q
difference. however the United
States is working with the help OF
the South Americans in most cases
to an end which they recognize will
benefit all.
AS in the case of military war.
fare, sacrifices are necessary in eco
nomic warfare as well. American
manufacturers are not allowed to
trade with the ANiS-cOntrolled firms
in South America which have been
put on the blacklist by the President.
The South Americans suffer. tenn
porarily, too, much as a nation suf-
fers when it is the ally of another
nation fighting an enemy on its own
soil.
Incidentally, it is interesting to
note that the grandson of the man
whose trust" is famous in history
for its ruthless methods of obtaining
a monopoly. John D. Rockefeller. is
now heading one of the organiza-
tons which is attempting to bring
the southern and northern nations
of the Western hemisphere into one
great combine to compete with the
Axis trust"
In Americas economic warfare
there is no rough stuff" That is,
the competitors stores and ware
houses are not burned or destroyed,
nor is violence resorted to. But ev-
cry possible use of the dollar. which
is the most powerful economic weap-
on in the world today, is employed
to destroy the efforts of the Axis.
Four Campaigns
Are Under Way
There are four separate cam
paigns now being conducted against
the Axis in South America by our
economic general staff.
One is based on agreements to
purchase, owe a period Of time,
South American surplus products,
especially war materials such as
zinc. lead. tin. copper. nitrates. This
not only prevents such materials
from falling into Axis hands but
provides a dollar exchange with
which South America can buy from
Us things which she might other
wise buy elsewhere.
The second economic drive is to
force the transfer of commercial
agencies from Axis into native South
American hands. Establishing pro-
Axis firms helps this. For instance,
for years the dominating commits
sion business in the city Of La Paz
has been handled by Germans. Sud-
denly. these Germans lose all Amer
lean accounts, are cut off from
American credits. Their business is
ruined. The United States encour-
ages a prominent Bolivian family
to establish a commission business.
1t gets the profitable United States
accounts. American personnel and
other help is furnished. The Axis
firm is smashed.
Another means Of ousting Axis in
huence is to eliminate foreign con-
troll of the airlines. For this pur-
pose. Jesse Jones. secretary Of COM
merce. has organized an Airlines
Development company. a govern
ment corporation. This company
will lend money to any South Amer
lean country for the development of
airports; give it priority on the pur-
chase of planes-provided that coun-
try gets rid of the German or other
foreign-owned lines within its bor-
ders. This step has been taken in
Bolivia which has nationalized its
internal airlines and removed Ger
man pilots. This action has also
removed a vital link in the German
International transportation system
which has served Peru. Bolivia, Bra
iii and Argentina.
In many of the countries the air
lines are already nationalized. But
in some places German pilots are
still flying the planes. In Brazil,
German-controllcd lines exist but
many concessions have been grant
ed to the United States. In Central
America the lines are all controlled
by a New Zealander who started
out with an old Ford plane, hauling
freight.
The fourth plan of economic battle
is the government loan. Loans are
advanced to South American gov
ernments for the purpose Of keep
ing the local currency stabilized.
Loans are also made for internal
developments, irrigation projects
and port developments which it is
expected will pay out owe a long
period of years, which will tend to
increase the standard Of living in
the locality and thus open new mar.
! kets for American goods.