The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-09-10


did presently
he'd align his republic with us at
once Hes been rather slow in do
ing so. but in October he'll be a
visitor In Washingto and the eX-
pectation is that his main business
Will be to explain his delay (the
reason for which isn't much Of a
puzzle. at thaD and poirt out TO
US how we can enable Chile TO join
US in jig time.
Argentina's position has been
entirely different from Chile's. Our
business relations with the former
nation never have been close, but
with Germany and Italy Argentina
has been on excellent commercial
terms. While not unfriendly, Ar
Eentina has regarded US with in
difference. at least. And its Geog-
raphy is such that it isn't in much
danger OF being seriously side
swiped by the war. German u
boating has bothered Il bit, per-
haps making II trend a tritie our
way. but the movement, If any. is
only in its incipiency.
Chile a Good Fr,,nd
Chile. though, is a reservoir OF
natural products mostly mineraD
that we need. We've been its first
rate customer It's people know
and like US. It's perfectly clear
why their sympathies are our way
not England's necessarily, but
pro-Yankee.
Chile, however, consists az the
merest ribbon Of Pacific coast
nearly twice as long as our own
Pacific frontage, from the Canada
line to the Mexican border, and
rather less than an hours fast
scoot across.
All its cities and resources are
strung along that narrow belt, and
they're Of a sort that's particularly
subject to annihilation by a plane
or two.
There's no likelihood that Ger
many can raid en-, but how about
Japan?
True, it's a long ocean stretch
for a plane to fly over-a darned
sight longer than the hop from
Dakar TO Brazils bulge into the
Atlantic. Brazils bulge. though,
is a small spot and paratively
easy to protect. Patrolling Chiles
thousands Of miles of waterfront
isn't so simple proposition
Planes won need 10 negotiate the
whole trip. Carriers can bring EN-
across and they can take off from
on deck, raise Cam and make their
respective getaways. tn take de-
fensive strength to stand of such
raids, and Chile, never having an
ticipated such danger, hasn't got
IL Neither has Brazil. but it's got
Yankee backing. the peril from
Germany having been foreseen.
It's safe conclusion that
Chilean President Rios query viii
be. will Uncle Sam guarantee our
coast, Of which we have nothing
else but, against Japan
That raises the whole Pacific
coast problem.
The Atlantic coast has been
semi-reckoned with. We've got
naval equipment all the way down
to the River Plate. We've got our
own west coastal waters and the
Caribbean and the Atlantic, south
ward to the Rio de la Plata, at
tended to.
And when we get out into the
southwestern Pacific (around Aus
trala and the Solomons and there
aboutsl we're prepared TO deal
with Japan.
Anxiety Is Natural
But we're pretty skimpily armed
10 take care Of allies on our own
side Of the water, south OF San
Diego or Whereabouts. Chilean
President Rios raises the issue
What are we going TO do about
it7"
Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are
entitled TO worry also. though
they're not 50 distant, despite the
fact that they're west coastal like
wise. Still, they've got a little
back-country, behind their coasts.
j q. 70 w