Evening star., 1952-07-13
Acheson in BroziI
Americas Top Diplomat Stops OFF to See
Some Rich and Influential Latin Friends
By Duncun Aikmon

Brazilian development projects
or in relieving war-caused eco.
nomic distress in the country.
But Secretary Acheson was
not in a position to promise
any change in this policy of
greater bountifulness to coun-
tries nearer the guns of Com
munist aggression. Indeed, as
an outgoing official of an about
to be : retired administration.
Mr.. Acheson was not in a posi-
ton to propose any concrete
Brazilian American programs
likely to be valid after the No
vember elections. And the
Brazilians well knew 1t.
No Chance to Dicker
What is more, Mr.. Acheson
had nothing specific to ask of
the Brazilians which might have
furnished occasion for practical
dickering on Brazil's needs, real
or wishful, of further assistance
from the United States. No
Brazilian expeditionary force in
Korea could be requested, since
it is thoroughly understood in
the State Department that no
government in Brazil could pro-
pose one without committing
political suicide. Ratification Of
a bilateral defense agreement
now before the Brazilian Sem
ate is much desired in WASH
ington. But Secretary Acheson
could not refer to it except cas-
ually. since to plead for ratifica-
tion might be interpreted as
putting an interventionist foot
in Brazilian politics.
Under these circumstances.
the Secretary was forced to
conduct most of his courtship
with diplomatic generalities
and bits Of inter-American
pep-talk. He tried desperately
to make his Brazilian audiences
see the difference between long
term programs Of help In the
development problems of friend
ly neighbor nations in the
hemisphere, and the more de.
manding emergency needs OF
allies nearer the fighting lines
in period Of world danger.
Solid Stuff
He played a spotlight on the
year-old Joint Brazilian-Ameri.
can Economic Development
Commission as an example Of
how long-term programs work.
1t has got down to the basics
of Brazilian economic prob
lens by recommending loans of
$9.8 million tor railway. port,
power and agricultural i'm
provements In the republic.
Already Export Import and In
ternational Bank for Recon-
Struction and Development
credits have been earmarked
for these purposes-with more
apparently to come.
The Secretary also assured his
Brazilian hosts that "the es-
Sence of the inter-American sys-
tenn is collective responsibility
plus absolute intervention"
and that even Republican adj
nninistration next year would
not change this basis.
It wasn't, by Latin or any
other standards, melodramatic
Wooing.
Miffed Lody
Yet Brazil, somewhat in the
state of mind of q miffed lady
craving attention. seemed to get
from the Secretary's visit just
what she wanted. The princi-
pal newspapers Of the republic
literally filled their front pages
with accounts Of the Acheson
them, "A Noite" Of Rio. issued
an Independence Day edition on
July 4 containing IL pages Of
Information on the United
States and Brazilian-American
relations. Crowds that greeted
the Acheson public appearances
were big and enthusiastic
enough for visiting royalty.
How much real strengthening
Of the Brazilian friendship took
place amid the hoopla Of Latin
cordiality remains to be deter
mined. Fortunately. on this
point some measurements can
soon be taken. II the bilateral
military agreement Is ratified,
If q bill easing the capital re-
turns grievance passes Congress,
and If there is a slackening In
the dreary political sniping at
the United States for failing In
its aid responsibilities to Brazil.
the Acheson mission can bs
given something more than an
A for effort.