Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-03
Washington Club
Hears Discussion
On Latin Nations
Senior Lasale Giues
Talk on Barriers to
Better UNDERSTANDING
BY Gretchen Smith.

Character differences between
United States which have led tc
misunderstanding between the two
peoples were 'psycho-analyzed
Yesterday by Senior Edmundo Lasale
in an address before members OF
the Washington Club.
Senior LaSale. a native of Mexico
who is assistant special adviser 10
DR.. Enrique Lasada, Office of Inter-
American Affairs, presented his talk
in fluent English generously inter-
Spersed with eloquent gestures and
peppered with witticisms which
brought repeated laughter from his
audience. The speaker revealed a
broad understanding of his northern
neighbors while he disclosed char
acteristics and explained customs Of
Latin Americans which nave fire.
quentlv been incomprehensible to
Yankee" minds and have proved
barriers to better understanding.
Senior Lasale declared that many
North Americans have received a
false picture of their southern
neighbors through Hollywood" por-
trayals of beautiful senoritas and
gay cahelleros" which is "grotesque
distortion of the truth"
Differences in Peoples.
North Americans make funda-
mental error in considering al Latin
Americans the same, the speaker
continued. The Argentine is as
different from the Mexican as the
people in the United States are diff
ierent from the British" he declared.
Then again, Brazillans are different
from those Of Peru, Ecuador or
Bolivia. The Indian ancestry of
Mexico, Peru and Ecuador is an i'm
portant factor in creating basic
difference between them ana other
peoples of Latin America he added.
Senior Lasale said that while Latin
Americans still cling to customs and
traditions of their ancestors. North
Americans have severed connections
with their European forefathers and
have developed new world of their
own.
You have no roots in the old
world" he declared. You are al
ways looking to the future. Your
connection with Europe is very dim.
That is why your German American
is very patriotic. He is searching for
roots here. He knows that the Ger
many his ancestors came from
doesn't exist today. That is what
the Germans of Germany don't I'M
derstand.
Tells of Latin Problems.
Senior Lasale spoke of problems of
Latin Americans which are not
shared by their neighbors of the
North.
I'VE still have church problem"
he said. Also a military problem.
You have neither. For instance, if
we have military man who wants
to hold office, we elect him. Your
military men have no political con-
nections-they can vote as they
wish
Considerable laughter was aroused
by the speakers reflection on "bu-
reaucracy"
You may think you have it in
Washington" he quipped, but bu-
reaucracy with Latin Americans is
the leading industry
Family life in North America has
been an interesting revelation to
Senior Lasale.
The American family life is very
fluid" he asserted. You give your
children good educations, but after
that YOU dismiss. them. Children
here seldom have the same profess
sion as parents. Often you will help
the person you went to school with
before you will members of your
own family. Latin American fam
lilies are close corporation" he
continued. You may not be on
speaking terms with member of
your family, but you help him. He
is part of the clan and you must
help the clan"
Tribute to Audience.
Senior Lasale concluded with
tribute to the feminine audience. IF
the goodwill policy proves success
full 1t will be because of women. They
are the key structure to everything,
~-