Evening star., 1951-03-18

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poration would in turn be able to
dictate the price and the sales
The giant United States financed
nitrate industry was put under a
similar arrangement several years
ago.
Meanwhile, the Communists
taking their cue from the bitter
anti-North American speeches
and tactics of the Soviet and sat-
elite delegates in the meetings of
the United Nations Economic and
Social Council, now in progress in
the Chilean capital, have tried
every scheme to enbarrass and
Idiscredit the representatives from
this country. not to say embarrass
their own government, which is
Iplaying host.
Soon after the conference con-
Ivened in Santiago the Reds pro-
voked what the local papers called
la most shameful incident" in
front of the fashionable Carrera
Hotel, where our delegation is
staying. and which is locs,ced al
most directly across the street
from the presidential palace. A
Communist-organized mob put on
a demonstration against foreign
imperialists," meaning. Of course,
the United States, during which
they shouted Insults against the
President of the United States. In
the melee which followed when
police broke up the demonstration
Ia number of people were injured.
In Colombia the old battle be-
tween the conservatives and lib
erals, or, more accurately, between
the extremists of the two political
groups. which engaged in one of
the bloodiest revolts in Latin
American history during the 1948
Bogota Conference, continues un-
abated. The best informed per-
sons on the scene say there is no
doubt that, as in the Bogota up
rising. Communist agents are tax
ing an important hand in the
present internecine strife.
Trouble Elsewhere
Mobs of the opposing elements
attack each other almost nightly,
sacking and burning houses and
villages in the outlying and rural
districts. Piracy and gangsterism
along the Magdalena River, prin-
cipal artery of transportation in
North Colombia, has assumed such
proportions that the government
has ordered the army to patrol
strategic points and guard all
shipping.
The Bolivian government is con-
tinually discovering political plots
against its existence, nearly all of
them instigated by extreme leftists
and fanatical nationalists who
have Joined hands to keep up agi-
tation. Leaders of the oil workers
in Venezuela. already the highest
paid of any industrial employees in
Latin America, are demanding still
higher wages and more social ben
ef1ts from the United States and
other foreign companies.
In Central America, new youth
organizations are being set up in
several of the little countries to
campaign for peace" and the
freedom of the people from i'm
perialistic domination and oppres-
sion," the familiar Moscow line.
In Panama the government of
President Arnulfo Arias is appar-
emily having its troubles. In the
past 10 days several former Presi-
dents and high officials have been
jailed or detained by police for
alleged plots against the admin
istration.
At a time when the United
States and several of the southern
republics themselves are resisting
Soviet aggression in other parts of
the world, civil strife and Com
munist agitation, whatever it's pro-
portions, within the inter-Ameri-
can family circle. is dangerous
situation. One thing certain,
neither our officials, the people
nor the press can afford to neglect
the problems of our Latin
neighbors.
The forthcoming inter-Ameri-
can foreign ministers consulta-
tions. scheduled to convene in
Washington a week from tomor-
row, comes none too soon. It not
only furnishes an opportunity to
rally the American nations and
peoples to a realization of the
threat of communism in the New
World, but offers chance for the
people Of the United States to
learn first hand some of the seri-
GUS economic and political diff
ulties with which our neighbors
are graphing,