Evening star., 1950-04-02

servers already claim that there
are serious preSsures on the part
of the representatives of some of
the governments. not only those in
the hands of dictators and mill
tary cliqueS, but some of those
headed b. ultra -leftist elements
as well, to prevent the organiBa-
ton from asserting itself. In fact.
the extreme nationalists in all the
countries have always opposed q
strong nter-American body ca
pable of exercising political iis-
Ifluence. ~
Those governments which MAIN
tain themselves by arbitrary
methods. and, of course, those
which fear public opinion within
their own borders. and therefore
deny their people freedom of the
press and opinion, do not want
any outside agency or group to
sit in judgment upon any of their
activities at home or abroad. Un-
fortunately approximately half Of
the 20 southern countries are
ruled by such regimes. "A
Naturally the Cubans. the Guat-
emalanS and the Dominicans are
displeased with being openly
branded as parties TO political
conspiracies against their neighs
bors. If they should join hands
with those who have always OPP
posed what they are pleased to
call interference in our political
affairs" the recommendations OF
the Inter-American Peace COM
mission could easily be defeated.
On the other hand. unless the
Council does take steps to make
its decisions stick, it will lose the
confidence and respect of the
small democratic countries, such
as Uruguay. Costa Rica and others.
which have looked to it for pro-
lection against neighboring bullies.
Although it absolved them of all
Trujillo's countercharges and ac-
cuSations of aggression against
him, the committee has reconi-
mended that the Haitians sign a
new bilateral agreement with the
Dominicans pledging the two gov-
ernments to mutually peaceful set
tlement of all their present and
future difficulties.
u. S. Attitude
Haitian diplomats are not much
impressed with the idea. They
point out that at the behest Of the
OAS they signed one such agree
ment with the Dominicans on
June 8 Of last year. Six days
later Haitian exiles were allowed
the free use of the government
controlled radio in Trujillo City to
incite the people of Haiti to revolt
against the government of Pres
ident Dumarsais Estime.
Meantime, there is little evil
dence that high officials in such
important countries as Brazil,
Mexico, Chile and others of more
democratic persuasion. are overly
interested in the matter. Not even
the press in Rio. Santiago or Mex
leo City has given serious atten-
ton to the report. At least, with
but one or two exceptions, there
has been hardly any editorial sup
port of its recommendations in
those great cities. o-
Interestingly enough, the gov
ernment-controlled press of the
Dominican Republic has pub
lished the entire l8,000- word doc
ument. but without comment.
There Is no question that most
OF the countries represented on
the commission. which included
Uruguay. Bolivia, Ecuador, CO.
lombia and the United States, will
heartily support the recommen-
dations Of their own representa-
tives. With how much vigor and
determination remains to be seen.
After all. Colombia is at the mo-
ment under semimartial law.
Moreover. its government is des-
tined to be turned over to q
President chosen in an election in
which only his own party went to
the polls.
The United States, of course,
will not wish to appear to dictate,
or bring undue pressure for the
adoption of the commissions rec
concentrations. 1t will prefer
that the initiative in the matter
remain with the Latins. But
every one knows that the atti-
tude and leadership of our AM
bassador on the OAS Council will
be one of the important factors in
preventing the organization from
faltering in this critical moment
of its existence.