Evening star., 1942-08-24
BeIIiqerent BruziI

DeIIi9eIent DTOZlI
Brazil's recognition OF state Of
war with Germany and Italy brings
into the fold of the United Nations
an ally whose potential value is by no
means limited to the actual military
contribution that this South Ameri-
can republic is capable OF making.
With a total population of some
$4,000, 900 people, Brazil has trained
army of about $1,000, plus some 300,-
600 reserves. Her navy is small and
most OF the vessels are old, although
they have been modernized to some
extent in recent years. The list in
cludes two battleships, two cruisers,
ten destroyers built or building, six
torpedo boats and four submarines.
The Brazilian air force, with a per-
sonnel of around $500, is something
of an unknown quantity, although it
has been considerably improved in
recent months. These circumstances
tend to support the conclusion that
Brazil cannot exert much military
influence outside her own borders
for some time to come.
From an overall strategic stand
point, however, the entry OF Brazil
into the war as full-hedged bellig-
erent is Of real Importance. With a
coast line which juts out into the
ocean to within 1000 miles of the
French African base OF Dakar, Brazil
flanks the vital South Atlantic trade
routes and affords potential jump
ing-of point for an expeditionary
force aimed at any point in West
Africa. Conversely, this great eastern
bulge OF Brazil has long been regard
ed as the area in the Western Hemi-
sphere which Is most vulnerable to
possible enemy attack "a potential
source OF danger which can be vir-
tually ruled out now that the Bra
zilians- have decided to enter the
fight.
The effect that the Brazilian dec
laration may have in Latin America
also will be watched with great in
terest. The only South American
country to declare war in the last
great conflict, Brazil also is the first
to take such action this time. In
evitably her decision will have pro-
found repercussions in Chile and
Argentina, the two Latin American
states which still maintain diplo-
matte relations with the Axis. There
are large German and Italian minor
tiles in Brazil-about 100000 Ger
mans and twice as many Italians
and this same condition exists in
Argentina and Chile. The Brazilian
German minority, strongly pro-Axis.
Is largely concentrated in the ex-
treme southern province of Rio
Grande do Sui. which borders North
eastern Argentina. Thus, an imme-
diate question arises as to whether
the Axis minority groups in Argen-
tina will attempt to collaborate with
their Brazilian neighbors In under
mining Brazil's war effort. II this
should prove to be the case, it is OBJ
vious that Argentina's neutrality
would be seriously compromised.
Another factor which cannot fail to
cause concern In Argentina will be
the marked increase in military
strength which is certain to be de-
veloped by her giant neighbor to the
north. Argentina has long been
jealous OF her own military position
in the Southern Hemisphere, but, If
she persists In her present diplomatic
course, she faces the virtual certainty
Of being left far behind, by Brazil,
which naturally will be strongly sup
ported and assisted by the United
States. It remains to be seen whether
the Argentine people will accept this
state of affairs.
There is one additional-aspect Of
the Brazilian move which merits at
tention-the exclusion Of Japan from
the list OF recognized enemies. AS yet
there has been no official explanation
OF this exception, but it may be ac-
counted for on one or more of several
grounds. 1t may have been done to
avoid embarrassing Chile or it may
be attributed to the fact that Japan
has given no direct offense to Brazil
Another explanation may be that
Brazil, geographically, is in no posi-
ton to wage war against the Japa-
nese, and that the inclusion Of Japan
therefore could not have been much
more than a gesture. However this
may be, it should be remembered that
Brazil has ample precedent in our
own failure to declare war against
Finland and Russia's decision to re-
main at peace with the japanese, and
that, after all, the main effort OF
Brazil as a belligerent logically should
be directed against the Germans and
the Italians.
Mrs. Alice Duer Miller