Evening star., 1942-04-12
Critical Hour Finds Americas
Almost Soidly Against Axis
Internal Social Conflicts and Shipping Problems
Keep Some Republics Aloof; Loans Helping
to Offset Dissident Elements
By Blair BoHes.

Through diplomatic channels come
consistent reports to Washington show
ing that the agents of the Axis and Of
its friends take advantage of even the
slightest openings where they can sink
wedges that will disrupt hemisphere
unity. In Chile, a country with long,
intricate coastline exposed to the Pacific
Ocean, the Japanese Embassy keeps the
Chilean government apprised of the
course Of japanese successes. Chile
might commit suicide If 1t broke of
relations with the Axis. For that rea-
son, Washington has an attitude Of
sympathy with Chile while it deals
firmly with Argentina.
The United States Government is de-
veloping its political, economic and mill
tary strength in Latin America under
great difficulties, with the shipping prob
lem at the core. The war and the block
ade of the Axis continent provide the
United States with the great oppor-
tunity of being almost the sole source Of
| imports for the Latin American coun-
tries. We could during the war develop
the Latin American dependence on us.
Cargo Ships Withheld.
However, the scarcity of shipping in
general and the U-boat warfare off our
Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean
have combined to limit the amount Of
goods we can send to Latin America.
The status of Brazil is always a mat
| ter Of concern for Washington and for
the other United Nations governments.
Brazil is close to Africa. The always pos
slble-though not now Immediately
probable-Axis push into West Africa is
a constant threat to the South Atlantic
| Ocean and to Brazil which has long
| coastline not defended every inch of
| its way. Brazil could be the bridge for
| an Axis approach to the Caribbean.
which washes on the Panama Canal. For
that reason, the United States wishes
Brazil had more leaders like the pro-
| American Oswaldo Aranha Foreign Min
| ister.
The methods used by the United States
| to Offset the strength Of the diSsident ele-
ments in Latin American countries are,
! chiefly. loans, information about the
| progress of our arms production drive
and the argument that if the American
republics do not hang together, they will
hang separately. The isolationist
| strength in Latin America is so strong
that the accomplishment of Sumner
| Welles at the Rio de Janeiro conference
in January remains an outstanding
piece of diplomacy.
Haiti and Ecuador.
Haiti and Ecuador provide instances
| of the different ways in which the
United States is using its financial re-
sources to cement our position in Latin
America. Haiti historically looks to
France for political guidance in the realm
of world affairs, but in these times that
would be akin to looking to the Axis The
United States has lent Haiti $1,000 900
for its agricultural development, and
that half island has used the money to
plant 100000 seeding rubber trees and
to experiment in the growing of sisal.
In Ecuador, the United States has a
special mission supervising the improve
! ment of the republics sanitation. The
mosquitoes are being driven out The
water supply of Quito and Guayaquil is
being purified. The agrarian elements
are being shown how to raise subsistence
| crops, in order to improve their health.
| This expenditure by the United States
is offsetting the Ecuadorean pique at the
loss of territory to Peru by the Rio set
| tlement. Ecuador and the United States
are considering also the possibility that
Ecuador might construct naval base
with American money and American en-
gineering.
Despite the weak spots in the solidarity
picture, the United States has been able
in general to win the friendship of a
continent and half. This is no small
accomplishment. Mexico and the Gen.
trail American and West Indian repub-
lies are with us solidly. Venezuela is
friendly, and so is Colombia, which will
have presidential election this week.
The new President will be DR.. Alfonso
Lopez, who served in the same post from
1884 to 1888 and who subsequently was
Colombian Ambassador here. He is to
succeed DR.. Eduardo Santos.