Italy’s Latin-American Ambitions

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 1 (Supplement)

Italy’s Latin-American Ambitions

IGH Italian officials are constantly Hitting to and from Latin H America as part of Signor Mussolini's attempt to make Rome “the heart of the Latin cultural world,” states a writer in "Cur rent History.” It is claimed that half a million Latin American intellectuals already adhere to a great cultural league recently organized. Bearing the slogan, "For the Cultural Empire of Fascism,” a call lias been sent out for a cultural congress to assemble in Buenos Aires. During the past 75 years 5,000,000 Italians have emigrated to western shores. Two million, predominately from northern Italy, have Hooded into Uruguay and Argentina until 56 per cent, of all foreigners in Argentina are Italian. Probably a third of the population, including most leading families, can trace Italian heritage. Next to New York, Buenos Aires is the largest Italian city in the world outside Italy.

A million and a half Italians populate southern Brazil, and at least 35 per cent, of the country’s 48,090,(100 inhabitants have some Italian blood. Sao Paulo, industrial centre, is almost entirely Italian. In the north there are fewer immigrants, though many influential Italians are at work in trade, business and propaganda. All told, they comprise a cultural, anil economic force, specially in the wealthy temperate zone part of South America, that some day may change the destinies of nations.

The large Italian population in South America Ims given Italy a broad base for a strong steamship service. Thus the finest, swiftest and cheapest passenger liners are Italian. Though Mussolini Ims not been able to utilize direct barter to the same extent as have Germany and Japan, the stream ous efforts of his government, aided by local Italian business men, and diplomatic pushing of favourable trade treaties, have resulted in commercial gains nearly everywhere.

Recent developments are likely to make Italy a heavy purchaser of Mexican oil, a lever for corresponding trade concessions. She Ims been particularly successful in obtaining trade privileges in Guatemala, and has. won advantages in Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Italy’s propaganda gains have exceeded those of tiny other nation. Her first goal was the conversion of all Italian settlers to Fascism. This was difficult, for many Italian immigrants are still definitely proletarian, aelive in the Argentine ami Uruguayan labour movements. But, little by little, propaganda and pressure lias worked.

The second goal was Io convert the governments themselves to the Fascist creed. A Fascist agency in Lima handles all Italian propaganda tor Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombo and Ecuador. Other such agencies, secret or otherwise, exist in Mexico, Central America, Brazil and Argentina. Various 1 talian-language papers are published in Brazil, Argentina ami Peru. Shortwave broadcasts are sent out daily from Rome; two-way broad-

casts are arranged: many local stations rebroadeast Italian propaganda. Much local time is bought. The broadcasting station of the official political party in Panama is a personal gift from Mussolini. The Italian Government has just erected a new shortwave station, surpassing any in the world, in order to reach Latin-America successfully.

One of the latest Argeutiiians to go to Italy for aviation study is Jorge Ortiz, son of the newly elected president. Salvadorean, Chilean and Peruvian officers have also been sent to Rome to study aviation. The Chief of Staff of the Peruvian Army is studying in Rome and buying munitions. Italians have made many mass and single air-flights to South America for commercial and military purposes. Bruno Mussolini's famous Hight and General Balbo’s impressive expedition of 21 planes wore highly publicized. An Italian airline has been long established down the eastern coast of South America, and the Government at Rome plans to establish a regular transatlantic service.

An Italian mission trains the Chilean air force, which has acquired many Italian planes. The same holds true for Peru. Salvador has bought four Italian bombers. According to Dr. Angel Monties, former Minister lo Washington, the Dominican Government lias secretly ordered several Italian war planes. Paraguay has purchased Italian bombers ami scout planes. Before Mussolini came to power he declared that Italy’s true greatness could never be fully achieved til! the British Empire had lost its control over the major part of the resources of the world. In Latin-America, certainly, England Ims suffered in prestige ami trade. Italy’s programme in Latin-America is thus part of her general plan of expansion. Her ambitions in South America may not be as grandiose as those of Germany, but Fascist leaders have said repeatedly that Italy cannot be ignored in any world struggle. In such struggle she expects her sons in exile to carry their part of the burden. There are indications tha-t she also expects to find sympathy and assistance from half a dozen Latin-American countries.