Evening star., 1942-01-11

20 determine the extent Of wartime COL
alteration In the Western Hemisphere.
And the pattern of collaboration that
8 hoped for out of this momentous con-
ference may survive to the mutual bene-
1T Of all the Americas long after the
| war crisis ends.
That Is the objective Of members Of
the United States delegation who are
now flying by Pan-American Clipper to
Rio For the immediate future the goal
| is to persuade all the American repub-
lies to sever diplomatic relations with
| the Axis powers 50 that not . single
| official representative Of Germany, Italy
or Japan will remain in the Western
| Hemisphere.
Such action would 60 far, 1t is believed,
| to stop the constant intrigue being car
ried on by the Axis In this part Of the
world That intrigue has been directed
in recent weeks toward sabotag1ng the
conference which is to open Thursday.
Diligently Axis diplomats and under
cover agents have attempted to spread
the poison of dissension. They will be
active in Rio, since Brazil still recognizes
| Germany and Italy.
Argentina . Problem.
But they will be more than matched
by our own top-ranking career diplomat.
Undersecretary Of State Sumner Welles,
who is the ofncial delegate Of the United
States. Welles goes to Rio with long
background of experience In Latin
American diplomacy. Many of the for
eign ministers are his friends. He speaks
Spanish fuently and he understands the
subtle sensitivities and jealousies which
color Latin American relationships.
Plus all this, he has the dignity and
the bearing of a diplomat, and in Latin
America that is useful bit Of stage
setting.
Neither Welles nor any Of his advisers
underestimate the task that lies ahead
in Rio. Argentina-one OF the more
powerful states in South America-is
prepared to oppose unanimous action In
severing diplomatic relations with the
Axis and in working out a convoy system
with the combined fleets Of the Americas
which Is the second immediate goal.
The situation in the Argentine is curl
ously difficult. In February of 1898, DR..
Robert NJ Ortiz was inaugurated Presi-
dent of that southernmost republic for
4 term of six years. He was man Of
considerable vision in world affairs, with
4 realistic view Of the need for American
cooperation. Two years ago President
Ortiz was taken seriously Ill and subse-
1uently lost his sight. His illness COM
oelled his retirement and Vice President
Ramon S. Castillo became President in
his place.
Now in Argentina there is a custom
and this should somehow have familiar
ring to us here in the United States
of naming as Vice President some one
with the necessary political 'oomph"
regardless Of what his other qualifica-
tions may be. Castillo comes, as did
our own John Nance Garner, from the
remote interior. He has the outlender's
prejudice against foreigners and alliances
with foreign states. In short, he was
the Argentine equivalent of an extreme
isolationist and he proceeded to reverse
DR.. Ortiz's foreign policy.
Guinazu and the Axis.
This compelled Julio Roca, who had
been a capable Foreign Minister, to re-
sign in disgust. In his place Castillo
named an extreme conservative, Enrique
Ruiz Guinazu, who had spent virtually
all of his career as diplomat In Europe
Guinazus last post had been that Of
Ambassador to the Vatican in Rome and
there he had come under the personal
influence Of Mussolini. A devout Cath
olic, Guinazu nevertheless was not inf1u-
enced by the attitude of the present
Pope and his Secretary of State, who are
in sympathy with the democracies.
He believed that the Axis would win
the war and that therefore Argentina
should cast its lot with Germany and
Italy. Leaving his post In Rome last
spring to become foreign minister in
Buenos Aires, Guinazu passed through
Washington and while here he was roy
ally wined and dined. But the atten-
tions showered on him apparently made
no impression. Back in Buenos Aires he
remained as firmly tied to the Axis as
before.
The irony of this is that observers in
Washington believe at least 95 per cent
of the Argentinians favor cooperation
with the other republics in the present
crisis. Moreover, the pro-Axis element
is comparatively small, with most Of the
italian population definitely anti-Fascist,
according to the best information here.
Not more than 100000 citizens of German
birth or German origin are regarded as
tied to Naziism.
Following the American declaration of
war, q series of events took place in the
Argentine which had a significance for
the whole hemisphere. There was wide
spread evidence of a popular desire to
: join. with the United States either by
breaking of relations with the Axis or
! perhaps even through declaration Of
! war. A huge demonstration was planned
| to honor President Roosevelt.
| Majority Is Anti-Axis.
While this big demonstration of solidar-
! ity was being planned. the government
! declared q state of siege to exist, equiv
: alent to our martial law. This was done.
1t was announced, to stop Axis agitation
! and Axis propaganda. But under the
state of siege one Of the first acts was
, to call of the pro-Roosevelt demonstra-
ton. Next q rigid censorship was
clamped on such great influential news
! papers as La Prensa and La Nacion,
which had been backing the demonstra-
! tion and urging collaboration. Almost
for the first time in their hfst0rv these