WORLD NEWS IN STORY AND PICTURE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

WORLD NEWS IN STORY AND PICTURE

World Events Explained,

GERMANY AND LATIN AMERICA The German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, has called a conference of German Ambassadors and Ministers in North and South America to report on the probable reactions in those countries in the event of a European war. says the Berlin correspondent of the "News Chronicle." They are also to report on the attitude toward German policy generally, particularly in South America, where there is growing influence of the United States of America and increasing hostility toward Germany.—Cable. Since the Great War most of the Latin American republics have experimented with one new form of government or another. When the drive of Soviet Russia to convert the countries of the world to Communism was at its height it met with a certain amount of success in some of the Latin American republics, notably Chile and the United States of Mexico, where there are large classes of poor workers. However, as Moscow's active propaganda lessened in intensity the Communist movement in America weakened. However, one of the chief caraes of Communism losing power in Latin

America was the rise of Fascism and Xazi-ism, which worked through the large numbers of Germans and Italians in Latin America, where there are comparatively few Russians. The richest States in the United States of Brazil are virtually controlled and are largely populated by Italians who have also a considerable population and influence in the Argentine. In the far south of Brazil German pastoralists predominate and German influence in Chile has for long been very strong, so strong that it prevented Chile entering the Great War on Britain's side, although many of the rulers of the country desired to do so. German influence also extended to several other republics, especially Guatemala.

By ARPAD SZIGETVARY.

For a long time Fascist and Nui propaganda gained ground, and it was thought that at least Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia would adopt Fascism as their form of government. After all a Communist or Fascist form of government would not make much difference in the Latin American republics as most of them hare been ruled by dictatorships since they gained their independence from Spain. However, despite Germany and Italy, Great Britain and the United States of America always maintained the chief positions, of influence and trade in Latin Amcrict, tirai when they saw Fascism gaining there they acted. Not so much on account of Fascism in itself, but tbe threat

to British. and American trade by Germany and Italy it would involve. Only recently the Brazilian Government banned Fascism and other jepublifli have followed auit, so that Germany and Italy have lost ground. Yousee these republics, although rich in resources, are, mostly through misrule, not rich in actual caah. To develop their resources they have to call on foreign capital. Germany and Italy have no money. Britain and the United States of America have, and that is why they win. Another reaaon for I*tin America's turn against Fascism is the fear of the^ republics that Germany and Italy desire to seize some of their territory, despite the Monroe Doctrine, which forbids European or other Powers gaining further territory on the American continent. The Monroe Doctrine is purely a policy of the United State* of America and it is doubtful if ahe could enforce it without the aid of Britain, which desires no more land in America and does not wish to aee any other non-Ameri-can Power gain any there. On that account the republics trust London and Washington and their influence in Latin America, realising that through them their continued independence has more of being guaranteed.