The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-05

the earmarks Of dig at the Ar
gentine Foreign Minister"
Replied Welles: "Yes, ii Ger
tainly was, Mr.. Foreign Minister"
ARGENTINA VS.. BRAZIL
Thus, wildly, was illustrated
the most important thing that
developed behind the scenes at
Rio de Janiero-the determination
of the United States to help those
who help her.
And because Brazil battled
every minute for American policy
at Rio, another important result
Of the conference was that in
the century-o see-saw between
Brazil and Argentina, Brazil defin-
itely took the lead in Pan-Amer-
lean power politics.
On the surface, Argentina, once
the recognized leader of Latin
America, forced the Rio confer
ence to recommend" instead of
"decreeing" a break in Axis rela-
tons. But behind the scenes, Ar
gentina suffered a defeat from
which 1t will not soon recover.
VIVA MEXICO!
Cleverest strategy to shove Ar
gentina into the background was
evolved by Brazils Aranha when
he actually made Foreign Minis
ter Padilla of Mexico the hero
of the conference.
Aranha knew the traditional riv-
airy between Mexico and Argen-
tina for the Spanish speak
ing leadership of the West
ern Hemisphere. Located at the
opposite end Of the continent, both
consider themselves dominant
among Spanish Americans.
So Aranha, foreign minister
Of a non Spanish, Portuguese
speaking country, planted a
claque in the galleries which, on
the first day, cheered Mcxico's
Padilla to the skies. Brazilian
newspaper did the rest, until
Padillo, with his demands that
all nations cut their Axis ties
Immediately, became the most
famous parsonage in Rio.
Then, at the last session of the
conference, after all the set
speeches were concluded, suddenly
the galleries shouted: I'VE want
Mexico!" And they kept 1t up
until Foreign Minister Padilla
went to the rostrum. There, he
delivered the most eloquent speech
of the entire conference, pointing
his finger at the Argentine and
Chilean delegates and calling up
on them to break with the Axis.
1t was beautiful oratory-prob-
ably prepared well In advance
and Mexico was cheered to the
echo. The entire conference rose
and applauded. But Argentine
Foreign Minister Ruiz Ginazu
slumped in his seat, his hands
clenched, not clapping.
Among the Spanish speaking
countries, Mexico had stolen the
show from Argentina. And in
hemisphere politics, Portuguese
speaking Brazil had taken long
lead over It's traditional rival.
DON'T PEEVE REUTER-
Observation-Disclosures Kanz-
Ter. brother-in-laW of Edsel Ford
and chief of the automotive d.
vision of the War Production
Board, has obtained some inter-
esting lowdown on who's who in
the war production setup.
Kanzler's Job is to speed up the
conversion Of the auto industry
to full war production. Confer
ring with War Productionm Chief
Donald Nelson, Kanzler COM
planned OF "meddling" by Ferdin-
and Eberstadt. civilian chairman
Of the Army Navy Munitions
Board.
The Army Navy Munitions
Board, composed Of military brass
hats, was a key agency In the
old defense organization. Jealous
OF their bureaucratic perogatives,
the brasshats now are endeavor-
ing to continue as big shots. Thus
Eberstadt and Kanzler have
crossed swords several times.
This was Nelson's significant ad-
vice TO Kauzler--