Evening star., 1949-09-25
Our Latin American Policy

statement of United States policy toward
our Latin American neighbors through
out the Western Hemisphere has just been
made by Secretary of State Dean AcheSon.
Speaking at a dinner given in his honor
in New York City by the Pan-American
Society, and addressing a distinguished
audience including leaders of American
banking and industry together with many
Latin American diplomatic representatives,
the Secretary gave balanced survey OF
our attitude and objectives in the conduct
of our foreign relations in this hemisphere.
Psstulating as basic the Good Neighbor
Policy" emphasized as bipartisan and
national" the Secretary proceeded to dis
cuss outstanding phases, both political
and economic, aiming to clarity certain
misconceptions which may have arisen
in regard to them.
On the political side he stressed political
disturbances in the Caribbean area, not
only within but also between the nations
of that region. This maze of "plots and
counterplots" was described as "repugnant
to the entire fabric of the inter-America
system" which, he asserted, is facing
crucial test" Reminding his listeners that
aggression" might come from within the
Americas as well as from without, ne
pledged our Government to do its best
to work against such situations while
urging common adherence to regional
commitments" made by all the nations OF
the Americas for the maintenance OF
peace and security. However, he dis
claimed our intention to set ourselves up
as unilateral Judge of the fitness OF
regimes which may come to power by
revolutions. Diplomatic recognition by us
does not imply our approval of the new
regimes. "It is recognition of set OF
facts, nothing more" and need not imply
intimate cooperation with the govern
ment concerned" While we strongly
favor progress toward human rights and
liberties, it is the nature of democracy
that it cannot be imposed from without
but "can be achieved only from within"
Equally important was the Secretary's
discussion of the economic phase, which
he characterized as offering "the greatest
opportunity for constructive action" Diff
Terminating "short-run" problems due to.
the late wars dislocations of world econ
omy from the longrun problem posed by
backward economic conditions in many
Latin American countries, he discussed
each in turn. His defense of our pre-
occupation with European. recovery as
being vital prerequisite to the prosperity
of the Americas was obviously intended to
answer Latin American criticisms that we
are neglecting their economic needs. The
Secretary went on to show how much we
have already done for economic CO.
operation" in this hemisphere, citing the
participation of our governmental agencies
and those of the United Nations in such
matters as agriculture, public health, and
the improvement of living standards. He
also cited loans made to Latin American
countries by our Export Import Bank,
totalling more than $7o0,000,QO for pro-
ductive enterprises, and our backing of
similar advances by the World Bank and
World Fund. Furthermore, this policy will
be continued and expanded under Presi-
dent Truman's Point Four" program for
the development of economically backward
areas.
At the same time, the Secretary stressed
the function of private capital in such
development and warned against excessive
industrialization in countries where we'll
rounded economy can be better attained
by improved agriculture and scientific ex-
ploitation Of natural resources.
This balanced, temperate and construc-
tive survey Of policy by our official policy,
maker should clarity our program in Latin
American eyes while allaying misconcep-
tions and answering criticisms that have
arisen among our southern neighbors.