Evening star., 1949-06-19

SA4ASO SAaS NAA< va SAtS " sA W
Chile, Colombia. Mexico and Cuba
five of the 20 nations below the
Rio Grande, have succeeded ir
maintaining without interruption
what one prominent Latin djplo-
mat describes as "unimposed Of
otherwise unmanaged" constitu-
tionally elected governments. A.
least two Of those, Colombia and
Chile, have experienced the great
est difficulty In doing so.
Revolts Short.Lived
Unfortunately for the Latins,
some of their revolts. such as the
Bogota uprising in April OF last
year. have taken place in the glar-
ing spotlight of the press, radio
and newsreel cameras of the en-
tire hemisphere. The Bogota re-
volt occurred while the Ninth
Inter-American Conference OF
American States was in session IN
the Colombian capital. Not IN
years had there been concen-
trated at any one point In Latin
America as many of the New
Worlds high officials and per-
sonalities, and as formidable a
coterie of newsmen and news
facilities, as were on hand to wit
ness that unfortunate holocaust.
Yet, the most significant facts
of this tragic event have been
overlooked. Not one OF the BOZ
conference delegates and other
visitors was injured or intention
ally molested. After twenty -four
hours, the Colombian government
gained complete control OF the
situation, and the conference re-
sumed and completed its proceed
tngs without further incident
More significant still, the Colon
bian nation survived the ire
mendous shock without falling
q victim of dictatorship or per-
mitting the military forces to
dominate the government.
The bloody Bolivian tin mine
riots of May 28 in which several
foreign engineers, including two
United States citizens. were
murdered and mutilated, were put
down by the armed force within
a matter of few hours. And
within ten days. $1,000 miners
had returend to work and pledged
themselves against any further
violence. So far. the constitutional
authorities have been able to
maintain their positions through
out the country and have set to
work to iron out the difficulties
and disputes between the miners
and the tin producers.
Illiteracy High
Naturally, it is difficult not to
overemphasize these unfortunate
outbreaks. Nor can any newsman
or observer travelling through
these countries disregard the
various political upsets or the
strong-man governments that
exist in several Of them. But
when we understand the unfortu-
nate social and economic condi-
tions that prevail in the majority
of them, 1t is remarkable that
there has not been more strife and
bloodshed.
Consider the tremendous rate OF
illiteracy in many of the countries,
even the most important. In Mex
leo. according to the governments
own figures. approximately As per
cent of the 100000 inhabitants
are unable to read or write Span
ish, the national tongue OF the
country. In Brazil. largest and
most populous of all the nations,
more than so out Of every 100
citizens are unable to read and
write the Brazilian language which
Is Portuguese.
In such countries as Peru, Ecua-
dor and Bolivia, the most authori-
tative figures place the number OF
literate people at not more than
20 per cent of the entire popula-
ton. In the large cities and
populous centers. the so-called
upper classes enjoy a high stand
ard of living; surrounded by all the
cultural advantages to be found
anywhere in the world. But, ex-
cept for the capitals of the small
countries and the principal cities
in the larger ones. there Is no such
thing as q middle class. The vast
masses of the people live a mere
life of existence.
Much criticism and condemna-
ton is heaped upon foreign and
particularly United States, indus
trialists, who have great invest
ments in oil, mining and other
properties, for exploitation of the
Latin American laboring peoples.
Yet, 1t is a fact that the majority
of these companies invariably pay
the highest wages. provide their
workers with the best living condi-
tions and surround them with the
greatest social protection such as
sanitation, medical care. old-age,
health and unemployment insur-
ance. to be found in any of these
Southern countries.
Experience Slump
Any one who thinks that the
vast oil companies in Venezuela
subject their workers to low living
and working standards. and other
wise exploit them, should visit the
oil towns around Lake Maracaibo
and especially the newer ones over
In the Eastern part Of the country
ut Caripito and other places. Nc
industrial community in. the
United States provides more mod
ern living conditions for its work
ers. This is also true in the prin-
cipal copper and nitrate fields OF
Northern Chile.
Unfortunately the same cannot
-