Evening star., 1947-09-21
By Joseph A. Fox

whether he would be the Democratic
presidential nominee next year, and
how his chances appeared. 1t should
be said in this connection that
while Rio has something more than
20 daily papers, their American
coverage is just about what might
be expected in a country 5000
miles distant and the treatment
accorded political news of ne
cessity is sketchy. Those interested
in this phase of North American
life, consequently, were anxious to
have the views-for what they might
be worth-of those who get a closer
contact.
The invariable answer, of course,
was that, barring an act of God, Mr..
Truman will head the Democratic
ticket next November. AS for his
chance of victory. the response
could be depended on to conform to
the personal predictions of who
ever happened to be doing the
talking.
Speech Well Received
On the second point-Mr. Tru-
mans place in the international
scene-it was not uncommon to hear
comment to the general effect that
he is gaining prestige with the
people of countries outside the
United States. Mr.. Truman, per-
haps, has suffered in Latin America
from the same thing that caused
his trouble the first year of his
administration in the United States
too much Roosevelt shadow. Now
that top men of most of the Latin
countries have come into contact
with him, comment privately and
in the press has been distinctly
favorable.
The speech with which Mr.. Tru-
man closed the Defense Conference
at Quitandinha was well received.
Spokesman for foreign delegations
were chary of comment on his in
sistence that the Americas as a
whole must assume their share of
responsibility for rebuilding Euro
pean economy, for their own
troubles are we'll known and they
are looking hopefully to the north
for aid that is blocked by Europe's S
needs. Tempering their feelings on
this issue, however. 1t was said by
one informed source, was the part
nership theme Of the Presidents
talk and the point he made that
only by combined action of all the
Americas, rather than the United
States acting alone, could world
stability be realized. One hearer
with weakness for oratory amused
colleagues by mildly protesting that
Mr.. Truman was too matter-of fact.
Foreign Diplomats Reaction
The Rio press dealt editorially
with the speech for several days,
haling in particular Mr.. Truman's
thinly-veiled attack on Russia. Only
Tribuna Popular, the Communist
daily, was critical, and it followed
up the opening blast by reprinting
a story of the Presidents connec-
ton with the old Pendergast ma
chine in Kansas City, along with
a picture of Mr.. Truman shaking
hands with the late Thomas ].
Pendergast, which appeared some
time ago In a national weekly in
the United States.
The effect of the Presidents visit
on the Good Neighbor policy was
summed up by one foreign diplomat
who has spent almost as much time
in the United States as in his own
homeland, and who told American
newspapermen that the important
aspect of the Rio trip-and likewise
that to Mexico City in March-was
that 1t brought the people of the
two countries involved closer, to the
United States.
As he put 1t, the Government of
the United States is liked south of
the Rio Grande, but the people
of the States are looked on with
some suspicion. His opinion is that
Mr.. Truman has done much to i'm
prove this particular situation.
On the visible evidence, Mr.. Tru-
man made out as happily with the
Brazilians as he did with the Mexi-
cans. There was no such gesture
in Rio as that in Mexico City when
Mr.. Truman electrified his hosts by
placing wreath at the tomb of
the young heroes of Chapultepec
who gave their lives defending the
Mexican capital from American
forces. In fact, the Presidents only
unscheduled appearance was the
few minutes spent at Municipal
Opera at a night performance.
Communists Guessed Wrong
But whenever Mr.. Truman trav-
eled through the city, from the
time he arrived until the moment
he left. there were crowds on hand
to welcome him.
"Muito sympatico,' which may be
translated roughly as "a simple
man." was their accolade.
The long, low. open presidential
car brought down from Washing
ton. was easily recognizable, even
in tie maze that is Rio trafic, but
as an added touch, President Eurico
Gaspar Dutra had his own license
plate transferred to the vehicle, and
the Brazilians were quick to note
and applaud that.
The warmth Of the reception