Evening star., 1946-06-30
Yankee Imperialism Cry
In South America Grows
u. S. Position Deteriorating as Result of Propa.
ganda Stemming From Widely Separated
but All Anti.American Sources
By Constantine BrotUn


voting much time to Latin American
affairs. It's chairman is Jacob s. Potof-
sky. But the moving spirit of the organ
ization is its secretary, George Nichan-
owsky, who for some time has shown a
deep interest in the undemocratic form
Of government in Argentina.
According to members Of the Senate
who have followed closely the vagaries
OF the American Republics Division in
the State Department, Mr.. Michanow-
sky has taken an active part in Amer
ican diplomatic actions in Buenos Aires.
He is said to have close contacts not
only with Mr.. Braden, but also with Mr..
Byrnes, whom he is said to have In
formed after the Potsdam Conference of
all his personal activities in support of
Mr.. Braden's actions in Argentina.
Russia Alters Position.
: He told the Secretary of State, ac-
cording to the Senators who have had
access to certain confidential files, that
during Mr.. Byrnes' absence at Potsdam
he mad personally supervised publicity
and had inspired" news agency's
story about the admirable stand the
State Department had taken on the Ar
gentine question. This INSPIRED" story,
Mr.. Michanowsky reported, caused a
sensation in Latin America and made
the front pages In Argentinas biggest
newspapers.
The interesting point in this story is
that within less than a year after For
eign Minister Molotov violently de-
nounced the fascism OF Col. Peron, the
U. S. S. R. decided to forget all about it
and renewed diplomatic relations which
had been broken off in 1917. A Soviet
diplomatic mission Is now on its way to
Buenos Aires, while a Soviet economic
mission Is already there and was present
in place of honor at the Inauguration
OF Col. Peron as President of Argentina
Thus, while the Division Of American
Republics in the State Department still
shouts "Nazis" every time the name of
Col. Peron is mentioned, the Russians,
who claim they need greater security
against possible resurgence Of the Ger
man menace, are more than anxious to
become friends with the Argentine pro-
Nazi dictator"
Some State Department of1cials ex-
planned to this reporter that publicatio
Of the Blue Book two weeks before the
Argentine elections was essential be-
cause our democratic friends in South
America were pressing the State De-
partment to take some action to prevent
the election of Col. Peron 1t looks as
If the pressure on the State Department
for immediate action" may have come
from sections which sre known to be
subservient to Soviet policies.
Three Groups Oppose u. s.
Today our position in Latin America
has become difficult. The United States
prestige and its intention to deal hon.
estly and fairly with it's sister republics
are undermined by three groups who
are united under one slogan: Down
with Yankee imperialism"
These groups are: The remnants of
Nazi propagandists who went under
cover but are still fairly active; the
many symathizers OF Generalissimo
Franco and Soviet agitators, working
through the labor organization of vi
cente Lombardo Toledano, president of
the biggest organized labor group in
Latin America.
The Nazis, representing power which
has ceased to exist, exercise their in
fiuence in small way by admonishing
those with whom they are still in con-
tact "he told you So" They argue that
after the Axis threat was ended, Amer
lea reverted to her old imperialism"
and has decided to use the big stick
whenever it suits her purpose
Those Latin Americans who would
like to save Gen. Frances regime Join
in the anti-American chorus They
praise Britain for her unbiased and real
istic attitude toward Spain and de-
nounce the United States for its vacillat-
ing policies. Since there is not much
they can say in defense of Gen. Franco
that has not already been said, they are
castigating American imperialism" In
Latin America as the reason Washing
ton sides against the Spanish dictator.
Finally there is the Russian propa-
ganda which, while newly on the scene,
is deadly efficient because 1t has at its
disposal far more money than the Ger
mans and the Italians together had.
Reds Well-Financed.>
Soviet propaganda in Latin America
dates back some 20 years to the time
when the word Communist" was still
anathema- -officially-in every Latin
republic. Then there were attempts to
organize cells among the discontented
workers in the smaller republics These
were partially successful. But the bril-
liant military feats of the Red Army
impressed the Latin Americans and the
Politbureau was quick to take advantage
OF the situation.
Russias most "agile" diplomat, Con-
stantin Oumansky, was sent to Mexico
when diplomatic relations between the
two countries were resumed, with large
staff of experts" and some $50, ,00O, 900
in gold. Mr.. Oumansky did q first-class
job until his death in Mexico City.
One by one all the Latin American re-
publics- under the gentle
prodding Of the State Department-re-
sumed diplomatic relations with the
U. S. S. r. The new ambassadors ar
rived with large stats and were we'll
supplied with money. This force, later
assisted by Lombardo Toledano's Latin
American labor organization, did good
work, not SO much to re-establish Rus
sia's prestige but in an attempt to UNDER
mine Americas prestige and vilify our