Evening star., 1953-11-22

States as they are in Latin America.
But DR.. Eisenhower points to other
gaps of misunderstanding which
require attention. He offers num-
ber of concrete proposals for
strengthening our mutual respect
and understanding. Some of these
measures can be adopted at once;
others must wait.
When, for instance, he calls for
a larger, freer flow of information
and ideas he touches something
urgent. However we may feel about
political and press censorship IN
the other republics, the Uni,ed
States will avoid any overt inter-
ference. At the present time. how
ever Latin Americans generally know
much more about the United States
than we do about them. The south
ward flow of news and ideas is con-
siderable; the northward movement
is woefully deficient. When we
abandoned our wartime program Of
informing the American public
about Latin American affairs, mis-
understandings and sore spots de-
veloped.
An Expensive Blow
More recently. when we suspended
the Spanish and Portuguese short
wave program services to Latin
America, the United States suffered
blow from which it will be difficult
and expensive to recover. SubSe-
quently, we sharply curtailed the
press and motion picture services.
Meanwhile, the Russians have
stepped up their own propaganda
activities. Even a confirmed democ-
racy like Uruguay has an active
Communist press. Latin American
labor leaders take frequent junketS
to Iron Curtain countries-all ex-
penSeS paid.
During World War II the CO.
ordinator of inter- American affairs
carried on a two-way flow of in
formation with Latin America. The
popularity of pan-Americanism in
the United States and Latin Amer
ica's loyal support of our war effort
underlined the results.
DR.. Eisenhower has returned with
a strong conviction of Latin Amer
icaS Importance now and in the
future. Here the population growth
rate SurpaSseS all other areas. In
the next SO years the population
may reach 500 million, and Brazil's
53 million are expected to double
by 1888. In. the long view, DR..
Eisenhower says, any economic CO.
operation extended to help the Latin
Americans meet their great aspira-
tions will rebound to- their benefit
and to ours"
Recurring crises in other areas
have diverted good deal of our
attention away from Latin America.
But the Communists and the Krem-
lin have never had their attention
diverted from this area. They have
infiltrated all the republics.
Must Reading for Lotins
But this will not detract from
the intense interest with which the
Eisenhower report will be studied
in Latin America. Each govern
ment. each political faction, each
editor will evaluate it in the light
of what it offers to individuals and
to nations. The economic aspects
will be serutinized with the greatest
care.
The prevailing opinion doubt
less will be favorable because no
minded person will fail to see
that the Eisenhower brothers have
adopted constructive approach;
that their hopes and plans follow
the patterns which have made the
inter-American system of collabo-
ration source of common pride.
For all men of good will the text
will Indicate that a good neigh
bor policy is the only policy worthy
Of the United States. Only the Com
munists will attack it as a capital-
istic plot.
To appraise this report realistic
cally, we must bear in mind that
the major economic recommended
tionS must await congressional de-
ciSions-at present we have only a
blue print for an overall economic
policy toward the other republics.
Many of the other recommends
tionS can be implemented at once,
thus adding fresh fuel to the sacred
fire of pan-Americanism.