Evening star., 1950-08-06

men and arms the United Nations
communism.
In the first week of the onslaugl
declared their solidarity with us.
From Mexico to Argentina came
assurances of complete support in
our challenge to the Communist
aggressors. Furthermore, all are
pledged by the Charter of the
United Nations, as adherents of
the Organization of American
States and specifically as parties
to the inter-American defense
pact, to support any one of the
members of either organization or
any one of the signatories to the
hemisphere treaty who has been
attacked. All, without exception,
have said that they will live up to
their pledged word.
Yet several of these nations have
even failed to respond to Secre-
tary General Trygve Lies call for
armed assistance. AS this is writ
ten, only two out of the 20 repub-
lies have officially and formally
offered troops. Bolivia has declared
it is ready to send 80 officers to
fight with the United States and
other forces. President Somoza of
Nicarauga has indicated that his
government could supply 5000
troops. Two or three others are
holding or about to hold conversa-
tions with our military authorities
on the subject.
No Brazilian Troops
The other countries which have
acknowledged the United Nations
request for help have been very
vague or non-committal in the
matter of military aid. The gov
ernment of Colombia "reiterates
its formal desire to fully support
the discussions of the Council of
the United Nations" and goes on
to say that it wishes to enter into
formal contact with the unified
command in order to study the
exact form in which such support
can be given"
Brazil was the only Latin Amer
lean nation to put an army In the
field in the last war and the first
South American republic ever TO
wage war on the side of the
United States in any international
conflict. But the head of her mill
tary forces has indicated that she
will not send troops to Korea to
fight with the forces OF this and
other countries against commu-
nism.
| At least the Brazilian Minister
of War, Gen. Canrobert, is
quoted as saying. There Is abso-
lutely no possibility of Brazil's
sending troops to Korea" The
4 Minister went on to point out
the geographical and other difficult
ties. He says, however, that "since
Brazil is part of the United Ma
tions she will be able to give other
valuable aid" and admits that
"she Is morally obligated to do so
as a signatory of the agreement
signed by the United Nations"
The Brazilian National Secur-
ity Council. meeting under the
Craftsmanship of President Dutra
himself, drafted>a statement de-
claring that the Brazilian Gov
ernment will render aid to the
United Nations consistent with its
available resources" and that it
stands ready to enter into dis
cussions with the approriate agen-
cies designated for this purpose"
Vargas Urges Neutrality
In the meantime, former Die
tator Getuilo Vargas, now a
candidate for the presidency in
the coming elections, is opposed
to Brazilian participation in the
present conflict. AS ruler of the
country during World War II,
Vargas was 100 per cent on our
side and organized and sent an
army overseas to fight under the
command of Gen. Mark Clark in
Italy. But he now demands that
Brazil remain neutral.
Apparently even President Peron
of Argentina. who was the first
head of a Latin American state
to indicate that his country would
render all aid, including military
assistance, to the United States
and to the United Nations, will not
be able to keep his enthusiastic
promises. Although his Peronista
Congress quickly ratified the Rio
defense treaty. which had been
banging fire for nearly three years,
he is now indefinite about further
commitments. Although in the
first week of the attack Argen-
tina police were busy rounding up
known Communists and jailing
them, the President of the Cham
ber of Deputies has since said
that "this legislative body will not
discuss bill which calls for out
lawing the Communist Party"
Peron Overruled
Significantly enough the Radical
Party, the opposition, even voted
against the ratification of the
hemisphere defense pact. But the
Radical (actually liberal Party
which until the rise of Peron had
long been the majority party in
the nation. has supported neu-
trality in two World Wars. In
fact, the Argentine population has
always been strongly isolationistI
and especially in any difficulty or
dispute in which the United States
was involved.
Peron rose to power in 1943, dur
Il l. y