Evening star., 1951-03-25


full whether many officials here,
at least among those in the top
bracket, are thoroughly aware of
what is actually at stake in these
discussions. Most officials, in
cluding Secretary of State Ache
son and other cabinet members
concerned, have been so preoccu-
pied with affairs in Asia, Europe
and the Near East that they have
had little time to consider even
the most vital problems of our
American world. These have been
left largely to the lower echelons.
Some Fireworks Likely
Indeed, it will probably come as
a surprise to some of them that
smooth and cordial relations be-
tween the United States and some
of the nations to the south already
hang by a slender thread. At
any rate, a flrst-hand roundup of
opinion among leaders in Rio,
Havana, Mexico City, Santiago,
Chile and other Latin American
capitals themselves would indicate
that Uncle Sam is probably in for
about the stiffest diplomatic third
degree from his neighbors that he
has ever experienced.
A good many observers in
Washington and in the leading
southern republics have been
placing great emphasis upon the
importance Of the economic con-
siderations that are to come up in
the conference. There is no doubt
that these will claim chief atten-
tion. But recent political develop
ments within, as we'll as between
certain countries, such as the
Peron regimes latest brutal as
sault on freedom of the press, the
smoldering enmity between the
governments of Guatemala and
the Dominican Republic and other
ticklish problems, now bid fair to
raise sizable tempests in the dip
lomatic teapot. These our Gov
ernment would like to minimize,
for the sake of the appearance Of
hemisphere unity, if nothing else,
but it may not be able to do so.
Although any such meeting of
American foreign ministers is
supposed to deal only. or princi-
pally, with threats to the peace
of the Western Hemisphere, which
is to say emergency matters. every
one now realizes it will not be
possible to keep this conference
on that basis. When it asked for
the present consultations, Wash
ington had in mind, roughly two
things.
Need Raw Materials
First, it wanted increased pro-
duction of critically necessary raw
materials, which we must have in
ever-increasing quantities in order
to carry out our giant defense
program. AS the Communist
threat to Southeast Asia and other
raw material sources increases, we
must be assured Of huge quanti-
ties of copper, tin, aluminium,
manganese, tungsten, hemp and
kindred vegetable fibers, natural
rubber, wool. hides, sugar and a
hundred and one other products,
Second, our Government also
felt the need for a tightening of
controls over Red propaganda and
especially for Communist con-
spiracy. Most of all, it was
anxious for stepped-up military
program and preparedness in
each of the nations to help defend
the American world against the
threat of Soviet aggression. We
believe that the fight against
communism is as vital to our
neighbors as it is to ourselves.
From the Latin American view
point. practically all the countries
have indicated their willingness
to collaborate in the defense of
this hemisphere. In fact, they
are already committed, in the
1nter-American Treaty of Recip-
rocal Assistance, popularly known
as the Hemisphere Defense Pact,
to make common cause against
any aggression, whether from
within or from without the
Americas. In the Anti-Com-
munist Pact, signed at Bogota,
Colombia in 1948, they are like
wise pledged to guard against
Communist penetration and sabo-
tage.
Economic Problems
Unfortunately so far only three
or four of the governments have
shown any willingness to send
military help overseas to fight
Communist aggressors in Korea.
At home. however, the vast ma
Jority have outlawed Communist
parties. A number of the most
important nations, such as Brazil,
Chile, Colombia and others, have
even slaShed diplomatic ties with
Moscow Brazil, Cuba and some
others have closed down extreme
leftist propaganda centers sus-
pected of being Communist fronts.
Their chief concern in the
emergency has to do with eco
nomic problems. Among other
things they are worried about
price ceilings on their products ir
this country. We have already
slapped ceilings on coffee, the
principal export of Brazil, Co.
lombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica
and one of the chief sources o1
revenue of at least 10 other coun-
tries. In Rio officials and part o1
the press have become particu-
larly incensed over what they pro-
fess to believe are attempts ir
this country to further depress
coffee priceS The IatinS alsn are