Detroit evening times., 1943-09-09

cooperation TO governments OF republican
character. The great country of Brazil,
which is half of South America, was an emct
pirs until 1889. and it was particularly duris =
the reign of Emperor Don Pedro II that thu
close ties of friendship and cooperation be-
tween that great country and the United
States so happily developed, which fortunately
remain steadfast today.
We adopted the principle that the internal
policy Of these countries, the form and fashion
of their political organization. is their own
affair, and does not justify our political at
tention.
Nevertheless at all times our government
has recognized that the protection of all of
these countries against foreign political dom-
nation was matter Of deepest concern TO
ourselves as well as to them. 1t was part
of our first line of defense
WET even this fundamental principle of our
foreign policy has not been wholly sus-
tained by our people.
Some years ago the Commonwealth Club
of California did an important thing. It
created large and representative committee
to study the problems of American foreign
policy. Eventually the question was reduced
TO this-what will the American people defend
by force Of arms? There was a wide diff
ference Of opinion within the committee.
There was a considerable number OF
throughful men who felt that the American
policy of defense should be confined to the
territory of the American Union.
They would not commit us to the defense
of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, nor even
to defense of Hawaii or the Panama Canal.
Others would have defended the countries
of the Caribbean Sea- but by no means the
,l,,lo of l,oIl Al.
defense of Canada was a matter strictly ia
the Canadians and for the British EmpI y
These positions seemed to be the logical out
come of what we call isoationism.
War today has moved us far-from any
of these doubts. No one can question any
longer our need of the Panama Canal or Of
Pearl Harbor. or Of Alaska and the Aleutian
Islands.
The defense of the whole hemisphere has
been accepted as the basis of our foreign
outlook. Canada can be counted on to resist
an enemy seizure of Puget Sound or the st.
Lawrence Gulf but if her own strength were
insufficient we would certainly make that
defense our war.
THE Hitler strategy was designed to UNDER
i mine republicansm in the states Of South
America, one by one; nurture Fascist revou-
tlon ana by successive steps bring the whole.
continent under German hegemony
This danger may have passed, but we seek
assurance that all the American states Join :
us IN our struggle with the Axis Our state
department has labored ndefatigably TO
make the roll of American belligerents COM
plete.
We have, | understand spent large sums
and furnished large quantities of war mate
rials 20 many of these states to bring them
INTO line with our war policy
Whether all this is necessary or wise.
cannot say. Some OF the sums must be re-
garded as subsidies for American co-opera-
ton. Few of these countries. 10 whom we
have furnished arms or other aid can give
any military help against our enemies.
There Is one notable exception. There IL
one country whose cooperation is essent r
II we are to preserve the integrity Of Sout u
America and prevent the intrusion of the
enemy into the South Atlantic. That country
Is the Republic Of Brazil.