The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-04-23


' an inkling Of
some Of the Central American re-
publics, on account OF the Panama
canal. But that ABOUT summed
the subject up. Two decades ago,
when l came back from a six
years absence in Buenos Aires,
folk here asked M where in heck
the place was "A city of Chi
cago's size then! The Latin Amer
icas knew about US, because they
considered US dangerous, but we'd
scarcely heard OF THEM.
That Pan-American Day celebra-
ton, April IA, was an eye-opener
though. Washington was the
focus Of 1t, Washington being the
Unions headquarters. but sub-cel-
ebrations are reported from all
over the United States, including
little bits OF burgs. They were
corkingly enthusiastic, too. News
likewise comes OF similar blow
outs in the western hemispherical
Latin lands. They've ceased to
think OF us as dangerous. We're
no longer regarded by EN- as big
brotherly in a mean, overbearing
sense, but as big brothers of the
right, friendly, protective kind.
Wallace plays Ball'
President Roosevelt started II,
with his western hemispherical
good neighborly policy. State
Undersecretafy Sumner Welles
gave il a big boost. He's been in
our diplomatic service at various
Of the New Worlds Latin capitals
and understands their local Pc
culiarities. Vice President Henry
A. Wallace has made a hit with
'em by learning Spanish. For
awhile he was discounted in Brazil,
since the Brazilians speak Portu-
guese instead of Spanish, but now
he's studying their lingo as well
as pure Castilian. He paid 'em
quite a compliment in recognizing
the difference and they appreci-
ate it.
OF course the current war hast
ened the tie-up. !
The Latin Americans have coolies
OF supplies that we need but that
we've been getting hitherto from
other sources, now shut off by the
war. We've discovered 'em now,
under stress Of circumstances, and
they naturally want TO hang onto
our custom in perpetuity Oppo-
sitely. as statesmen Of manufac-
tured junk that THEY require, it's
to our interest to keep the eX-
change going.
Directly down this alley IS State
Secretary Cordell Hulls reciprocal
trade program. The wars devel-
oped it intensively in this diree-
ton.
Asa result OF State Undersecre-
tary WeIles' and Mexican Foreign
Minister Ezequil C"Zeke, " Yankeely
expressed) Padilla's negotiations,
we and Mexico are about as close
" associated as the U. s. is with
Canada union, darned nearly.
We're not far of from it with
Brazil.
Some Of the other Latin Amer
icas need little more fixing.
It's unfortunate that Argentine
and Chile hang out from a break
in relationship with the Axis, but
it's safe betting that they'll come
to II, too, II things drag along.
The Argentinos and Chileanos will
get into economic soup otherwise
There's a notion in our midst
that the Latin Americas are totali-
tartan. because they've had quite
a bunch Of relationships.
It's mistaken conception.
Basically those birds are more We
hemently democratic than we are.
They've had pinches that maybe
called for relationships from time
to time. They don't like 'em,
nevertheless. None Of 'em ever
have lasted for long.
Labor Is 0kay
Latin-American labor is all that
could be asked Of 1t.
During the last war I've seen n
rise up in riots against German
exploitation-sack German stores
and clubs and chase German diplo-
matte representatives off the con-
tinent or maroon EN- in isolation
camps. That happened right in
Argentina, which is advertised to-
day as pro-ASis, since It doesn't