Evening star., 1942-02-03

the c o u n I r les #E
IN m d late
y surround s1d
ing the Panama David Lawrence.
Canal.
The return Of Sumner Welles
Ondersecretary of State. has not
been heralded as the triumph 1t
really Is. Nor has attention been
given to the year and hall Of work
done by Nelson Rockefeller and his
once Of Inter American Affairs in
cultivating the ground on which
the latest evidence of Pan-American
solidarity could be so firmly based.
Deeper, however, than the accom-
plishments of recent months is the
spirit Of the Good -Neighbor policy
itself, which has been persistantly
acclaimed by President Roosevelt
and which will rank as one of the
most constructive policies in the his
tory of Americas external relations.
New Era of Trust.
Again and again through past ad-
ministrations- the Presidents and
Secretaries Of State. have Striven to
impress on the Central and South
American countries the sincerity of
purpose Of the United States, but it
has remained for the Roosevelt ad-
ministration to reach the goal.
Today Latin America trusts the
United States to a greater extent
than ever has been believed possible
among 20 sovereign nations of differ
ing aspirations and interests.
The reason for the success of the
policy is that the American govern
ment has at last learned that the
nations to the South Of us are in
dependent in spirit and can neither
be pstronized nor bamboozled and
that concrete measures of friendship
are recognized as such when they
are disinterestedly presented.
While Secretary Hull and the en-
tire State Department have given
Latin America a great deal of at
tention in the last several years, it
is q fact that economic and cultural
relations inevitably had been neg
lected in the rush of diplomatic
business Hence President Roose-
welt was wise in setting aside, a.
separate institution Of the Govern
ment here to coordinate all COM
nerical and cultural relations with
Central and South America. In
placing Mr.. Rockefeller in charge
Of 1t, he chose young man who
had already spent considerable time
IN Pan-American relationships Of q
cultural as well as economic nature
and whose enthusiasm for the ma
tions to the South Of us was in
fectious.
The cooperation Of Jesse Jones,
Federal loan administrator, and
Warren Lee Pierson, the head of the
Export Import Bank, and the de-
velopment of a system of priorities
and ALLEGATIONS through the Board
Of Economic Warfare, Of which Vice
President Wallace is the head, were
all factors in laying the foundation
for the progress made at Rio last
month.
Latin America has felt the pinch
Of the worldwide economic situa-
ton. Shipping is scarce. Certain
raw materials and manufactured
goods from the United States are
vital to the preservation of the eco
nomic equilibrium of most of the
Pan-American countries. This was
the kind Of thing which, if mis-
handled, could have produced i'll
feeling or apathy when it became
necessary to obtain uniform action
In breaking with the Axis.
Score Defense Victory.
Once diplomatic relations are sew
cred, fifth columnists can be weeded
out. shore lines can be patroHed to
prevent submarine bases from being
established and generally Americas S
defense can be promoted. One needs
only to look at the map to realize
what Japan could do on the West
Coast and what Germany could do
IN the South Atlantic If either ma
ton had air or submarine bases In
this hemisphere. Messrs. Welles and
Rockefeller and the entire Washing
ton mechanism which has been spe-
cializing in Pan-American relations
had as much to do with national de-
Tense in what they have painstak-
ingly labored to accomplish these
last lS months as If they had been
part of our military and naval forces
themselves.
What is more important, however,
Is that a foundation has been laid
on which a permanent policy can
be superimposed. The steps which
the United States have taken, with
the countries to the south Of us re-
ciprocating, will live long in the
memories Of all the peoples in this
hemisphere. 1t Is the kind Of con-
structive relationship that a future
armistice in this war, instead of sus-
pending, may well build further be-
cause it Is a rare example of the
kind Of international cooperation !
that can be developed through the
processes Of reason and mutual trust.
It Is milestone in American history.
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