GOOD NEIGHBOR OR BIG BULLY?
Villard, Oswald Garrison
Good Neighbor Or Big Bully? By OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD rHERE is a conflict of two philosophies in our quarrel with the Argentine. Secretary Hull believes in ihe Big Stick. He has denounced the...
...Thus is revealed again one of the reasons for the break between Mr...
...Hull's assertion that these alleged actions of the Argentine have struck a blow against hemispheric cooperation runs directly counter to the thesis of Sumner Welles in his newspaper articles and in his just published book, The Time For Decision, in whieh he says: "The policy pursued by the Department of State has been not only unwise and inexpedient...
...Welles, which led to the enforced retirement of the latter from the State Department without even the consolation of publication of one of those "Dear Sumner" letters from the White House...
...Hull cannot deny that for six months he withheld recognition from tfce new'Bolivian Government on the mistaken ground that it was pro-Axis, and then had to eat humble pie when he recognized that it was not only not pro-Axis, but was far more liberal and democratic than the dictator who preceded it, and that it was helping us more in the acquisition of needed war materials than had its predecessor government...
...Welles' position, but Mr...
...We have built up the military forces of Brazil to such an extent that it is contributing not only a large contingent to the United Nations forces in Europe, but is creating a dangerous military power in South America bound to bring immediate hostile reaction in the Argentine and elsewhere...
...Conflict In Policies Mr...
...He has denounced the government of Parrel...
...It is very aiiuch to be feared that Mr...
...He declares that the Argentine Government "deliberately violated the pledge taken jointly with its sister republics to cooperate in support of the war against the Axis powers, and in thus deserting the Allied cause has struck a powerful blow at the whole system of hemispheric cooperation," and secondly that "it has openly and notoriously been giving affirmative assistance to the declared enemies of the United Nations...
...In his statement Mr...
...It has strengthened the ultranationalist element throughout the nations in the Southern part of the hemisphere...
...The Good Neighbor Policy of Franklin Roosevelt was one of his greatest achievements, but we are going to destroy the good effects of that, if we have not already done so, If we play the role of the big bully...
...Big Stick' Pressure Already we have compelled the other Latin-American nations to withdraw their ambassadors from the Argentine so that the only important diplomat remaining there is the representative of Paraguay, that small country which does not dare to offend its huge neighbor...
...The result-is, therefore, that by this grave error the Department of State has broken the unity of the hemisphere, maintained against all obstacles for more than 1© years...
...The minute we begin to take the attitude that we shall control their administrations and punish them if ws do not like them, we are on the road to the complete destruction of the Good Neighbor Policy and of becoming the most hated and feared of nations...
...Whatever the Argentine does, we ought never to try to compel her or any other Southern country to have the kind of government we wish it to have...
...Hall's words, notably when, in a recent address, he said that a year ago we were not powerful enough to enforce our will upon neutrals and others, but that now we had developed our army and navy to such a point that we could take whatever action we chose—language unhappily reminiscent of some of the threats of Adolf Hitler to the victims of his brutality...
...Hull indirectly attacks Mr...
...Welles is right in saying that the merit of our grievance against, the Argentine is being forgotten in the fear that is being aroused by Mr...
...Which of these two authorities as to American foreign poliey is correct ? For a layman it is very difficult to say...
...Once more it must be said that America is not God and is not called upon by any inherent virtue or political wisdom or intelligence to tell other people how they, shall live and conduct their own affairs...
...It has been catastrophic in its effect upon Argentine public opinion, and has created in other American republics open sympathy for a reactionary and dictatorial regime which had hitherto been regarded with aversion...
...A more violent attaek could hardly be made upon a friendly nation, and it has created ihe natural repercussions—the Argentine Foreign Minister, for example, declaring that the Argentine has fulfilled all her obligations, has interrupted communications with Germany and Japan, suppressed their espionage, closed their news and propaganda agencies and clandestine radio stations, participated in all measures for the juridical defense of the continent, and barred Axis nationals from its territory...
...We must maintain the right of the freedom of any people to have the kind of government they want, or, because of circumstances, must put up with...
...It is very easy indeed to make mistakes in a matter like this...
...For we are going to be neighbors of these countries for all time, and if we are going to make them more than ever dread the Yankee giant we shall create a Latin-American solidarity of a kind that we shall not like...
...Hull and Mr...
...Such knowledge as I have of Latin-America and the Latin-Americans makes me feel that whatever the offenses of the Farrell government, every effort should have been made to prevent this open break, and above all not to put the United States into the position of wielding the Big Stick...
...as a deserter to the cause of the Allies...
...Whatever the Argentinians are doing to help the Axis, if anything, is of minor importance in the winning of this war/Whether weMose the regard of the South and Central Americans and put in its place abject fear of our tremendous power is of vital import...
Vol. 8 • August 1944 • No. 33
