Evening star., 1944-05-26
Letters to The Star
Discusses Our Relations With
Southern Neighbors.

To the Editor of The Star.
What is pan-Americanism? What is
the good-neighbor policy? Just what
constitutes good neighbor?
These questions have multitude OF
answers Let me illustrate:
You have a neighbor-let's call him
Bill. And you see him across the fence
for a few weeks. Then one day you
speak to Bill and find that he can talk.
Gradually you and he drift into chatting
every evening as you 60 about your re-
spective gardens. You find Bill isn't a
bad sort, although you think he is very
queer in many ways. He doesn't plant
and tend his garden the way you do.
He parts his hair in the middle, while
you prefer yours parted on the side.
He works all clothed, you prefer gym
clothes. He doesn't smoke, you do. He
doesn't have car, you have two OF
them. He is salesman for a real
a wholesale concern. In fact, you are
different. But through the little friendly
chats you find that you have much in
common. You both like to fish and
hunt You both like to garden, even
though you each do differently. You
both like to read. even though you are
interested in different subjects. In fact,
you get along on your common ground
and enjoy each other. You don't try
to change each others gardening, read
ing, way of dress, smoking, occupation.
But gradually through association each
takes unto himself the best qualities of
the others habits and both are bene-
fitted.
Basically you and Bill of course, have
a common relation. You speak the same
language When you said something,
Bill understood, and here was no great
void to bridge. From that foundation
a friendship was built even though you
were different as regards habits, likes,
dishkes, living standards, etc.
We are the great Nation of the West
ern Hemisphere, or so we like to think.
But are we? Are we tolerant? Are we
big enough to do the bigger things?
Certainly, we can give or lend money
and give able and sound advice, in our
own opinion.
But can we say, Here we will start
+ the foundation for that great future
structure called understanding by meet
ing all the peoples Of the Western Hem
isphere on a common ground's? ~
Few people realize that there are more
spanish-speaking people in the Western
Hemisphere than all other people com
bined. 81
The greatest thing we could do to
promote the friendship of all our neigh
bors in the Western Hemisphere is to
teach Spanish in all our elementary
schools, high schools and colleges, re-
quiring the same number of credits in
Spanish as we require in English
BY this we mean Spanish as it is
spoken in the Western Hemisphere, not
Castillian.
Let us meet these people and even 60
well beyond the halfway mark. Learn
their language so that we may begin to
understand them. Then, let us see their
countries of which !; they are justly
proud. g. w. KIMLER.
3
Mr.. Churchills Craftsmanship"
TO tn. Editor Of The Star:
Winston Churchilrs honest declara-
ton that ''Spain's internal politics are
"a matter for the Spaniards alone" comes
as sharp reminder that our own deal
ings with our neighbors of Latin hertz
age in the Argentine and elsewhere
lacks understanding and common sense.
If Mr.. Churchill looks forward, as he
says, to increasing good relations with
. Spain and extremely fertile trade, -
would it not be the part of the national
and international intelligence for us to
say as much for our relation to the
Argentine? Instead, we have been fol-
lowing policy which, if we persist in
1T, will drive the Argentine from the
Pan-American Union and break the
fraternal bonds with Latin American
countries which we carefully have
sought to develop for over so years.
The emergency of war has brought
relations with the Argentine into a
tangle of inconsistencies. Very few citi-
zens of the United States can UNDER
stand the inclusion of the official repre-
sentatives of the Argentine in the trade
conference of the co-ordinator of inter-
American affairs last week in New York
and the International Labor Office at
Philadelphia while they are barred from
participation with UNRRA. The failure
of our Government to take an open,
honest stand on these issues make the
fortnight statements of Mr.. Churchill
appear valiant craftsmanship.
1t would be wholesome if the State
Department would quit it's hush-hush
game and take courage from the English
leaders who realize that the lifeblood of
friendly intercourse between nations is
trade and, amid the tumult of conflict
continue to bid for it.
HAROLD M. DUDLEY.
Wants Legislators Better Paid
To the Editor of The Star: