Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-27
Russia Stirs Up Latin American Indians

all white men-including Commu-
nists-and their ideas. He said the
Communist threat is more potential
than immediate.
Indians now comprise 10 per cent
of the population of Bolivia, IS per
cent of Ecuador. 53.5 per cent Of
Guatemala, 80 per cent of Peru and
2R8 per cent of Mexico.
Dangerous Conditions
Here are some conditions that may
make these Latin American Indians
vulnerable to Communist propa-
ganda:
Q The ancestors of many Of them
had developed a highly advanced
culture before the white man ar
rived. The Incas along the Andes.
the Aztecs in Mexico, and the
Mayas in Central America had FASH
Toned highly developed socialist
states.
Q When the whites landed in
North America, they wanted land
and almost exterminated the In
dian in getting it. The Spanish
settlers in Latin American wanted
both land and labor and reduced
the Indian to servitude on his own
land.
. Outside Mexico and Bolivia, the
Indian has not advanced much in
the past several centuries. Sew
eral countries still regard him as O
cheap economic unit-a human
machine that costs less than trac.
tor. The whites find it profitable
to retain him in increditable condi.
tions of poverty and ignorance. Mex
leo and Bolivia, however, have en-
franchiSed the Indian and given
him his own land to work. They are
educating him to handle both the
vote and the land with due re-
sponsibilities Of citizenship.
Indians have a psychological,
even biological, attachment to the
land. Some have given away chill
dren they loved to keep from losing
the land they loved more. Unless
some constructive system of land
reform is initiated, the Communists
can stir up plenty of trouble. They
can sell Indians the phony idea that
communism would restore to him
the land of his ancestors.
Discrimination against the In
dian is cultural-not racial. II he
can afford to wear shoes and discard
his Indian gear, he can be accepted
in white society. If he can afford
school and learn to read, he can
vote. More often than not, economic
barriers preclude either.
5 Nations Destiny
The political destiny Of at least
five Latin American countries, how.
ever, belongs to the Indian. Ecuador,
Peru and Guatemala probably will
follow the example of Mexico and
Bolivia eventually.
This development raises obvious
implications for United States
foreign policy. The United States
and its Latin American allies can
meet phony Communist propaganda
with a constructive program for
economic and political development.
Otherwise IA million Latin American
Indians will remain a potential
vehicle in the Communist goal OF
world revolution and domination. Or
Russia could use them in a third
world war as Great Britain used
North American Indians in the
Revolutionary War.
Assimilation of Indians into the
national life Of several Latin Amer
lean countries could strengthen both
those countries and the Western
alliance. Politically. it would i'm
vigorate democratic principles. Eco
nomically. it would increase the ma
tional product of those countries
and open vast, untouched markets.
The United States could spur its
allies to do what Mexico and Bolivia
are doing. It could render some
economic aid and technical assist
ance required for the economic and
political development Of Latin Amer.
lean Indians.