The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-06-08
Observations
Visit of Chile
President Seen
as Important

PRESIDENT oeen
as Important
President Juan Antonio Rios OF
Chile arranged his June visit TO
Washington 10 make strong bid
for a partnership of all the Amerl,
cans Upon Terms pretty well
amounting to an outright fedora
ton. OF course, he plans to make
II permanent-not merely a war
time compact, though war condi-
tions make il urgent to make an
Immediate start on negotiations.
Raher curiously, President Rios
felt himself spurred 10 activity by
reason OF the fact that his republic
vas a trife dilatory in breaking re-
lations with the European Axis
powers following Uncle Sam $
declaration of .hostilities. With the
exception of Argentina, which has
not done so yet though its pres
ent tendency is in that direction,
Chile was, indeed, the last OF all
OF them. Their president felt It
incumbent upon him TO lose no
time in explaining why the Chill
enos we're so slow about II.
The rest OF the Western HemlS-
pherical Latins, he points out, con
rentrate so much authority in the
executive branches of their var
lous governments that their re-
,pectiJe presidents cannot act In
,uch matters without consulting
heir 90 different legislative bodies.
Even the Argentinos' eX-president.
Ramon Castillo. could have done
so II he had wished to, but he Is
rated. among his own countrymen.
as being decidedly more pro'Ger-
man and pro-Italian (thOugh not
pro-Japanese) than the rank and
file Of them.
President Rios though, had TO
wait for congressional approval
and arranging it involved wasted
time at Santiago. just as such dick
ering does in Washington.
Vice President Henry A Wallace,
recently touring the lands south
OF the Rio Grande. readily grasped
this idea. Not only absolving the
Chilenos of any blame for their
delay. he complimented them on
the democratic character OF their
system.
This tickled the Chilenos pink,
and had a lot 10 do with lining up
the whole outfit alongside Uncle
Saruel-as witness President RIOS
northward trip 10 cement the sen
ument.
Pro.Axis sympathy does not sig
nifty south OF Brazil, on the ATTAIN
tic Coast. Brazil is predominantly
Portuguese. therefore pro-l ankee.
Argentina is strongly Italian,
but is not more than nominally pro-
Italian, either The German infu-
sion is strong in the Argentine re-
public. 1t is in Chile also. Ger
mans broke in there in early colon
ial days and are formidable. Stlll.
they are in no majority. Italians
never gained much Of a Chilean
stronghold, though, II was too lar
inland for them
The Japanese do not signify in
Argentina and Brazil. They are
not numerous enough.
They are ponderable in chile
and in northwestern Latin Ameri-
ca. but it is only numerical-any-
thing but popular.
So far as Chile is concerned. an
attack from Nippon is something
10 be greatly concerned about.
They have thousands OF miles of
coast land. only a ribbon wide, 10
defend against any Japanese ava
ton
1t stands to reason that they are
worried.
The prospect II Jap landing
alarms them. Their coastal cities
are what are in danger of air at
tack. And they are not prepared
10 defend them.
Can Uncle Sam do it for them?
They are skeptical
The emergency being disposed
Of how about the future?
Chile especially has mineral sup
plies required by Yankee industry.
What tariff conditions will 1t get
them?
President Rios mission is to bind
the Americas closer together
His visit 10 Washington Is. there
fore. highly important It almost
overshadoVs the recent visit OF
British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill.