SOUTH AMERICA AND THE ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 303, 11 September 1918, Page 5

SOUTH AMERICA AND THE ALLIES

BRITISH IDEALS AND GERMAN INTRIGUE 'SOL ERNEST SHACKLETON'S MISSION ■ Sir Ernest Shackleton, after returning to''New Zealand early last year with the remaining men 'of his Antarctic Expedition, proceeded to London, and'placed his services at tho disposal of tho Imperial authorities. He was soon sent to South America on a.special mission, and ho remained there for many months, ft was during his stay in South America that some of tho Latin-American republics severed relations with Germany, and placed themselves .definitely on tho side of tho Allies. Brazil lias since sent warships into European waters to assist in destroying tho U-boats, and although Chile and Argentina, the remaining two largo republics, are still neutral, thero are indications that they will declare against' Germany beforo' the :«ar ends.' ' ' • These facts add interest to an article that Sir-Ernest Shackleton baa v untributed to the Trade Supplement of the London "Times" on the subject of the "South American sympathies." Sir Ernest explains the general situation. as he sees it, in Argentina and Chile, tho only two important .South American republics that have not yet broken off relations with Germany. He pre : . diets that South America is going to be one of the chief battlefields of tho commercial war that is expected to follow the conclusion of peace, and he urges that organised effort should be _ made to restore and improve the position of British trado in that-continent. He believes that Britain will have the support and sympathy of. the majority of the South American people. "The people of the Argentina and Chile have always been: distinctly friendly and sympathetic to tho British, and the reason,is not far to seek," says Sir Ernest Shackleton. "The liberty of the Argonitine was secured with the active assistance of tho British in battle. Tho bond of sympathy thus created in the early days has ever become stronger as tho years passed on. For over a hundred years tho 'Argentine has been closely'associated with British commerce, British industry, and British ideals. ■ To British capital and initiative the development of the country is very largely due. The great jailways that spread their tentacles over this vast country, rich in natural resources, are nearly.&ll of British origin and nnder British control. British trade and commerce held absolutely' undisputed sway untjl comparatively recent years, when French, German, and latterly United 'States capital began to enter the'market. Is; it not therefore, that the head of the Argentine nation and the peopfo themselves.should hold a sympathetic and friendly attitude towards us?' "The British policy in the Argentine, as in other countries, has never been to dominate or attack in any way the sovereignty of the nation within whoso borders Britons are carrying on enterprise and trade. Rather has it been one of co-operation, as opposed to dictation a pohoy actuated by the fundamental respect Ifor institutions and the ngnts, of men and nations, which respect is the keynote of our success as colonists and as conductors of enterprises rn foreign countries. Two phrasesun common-use in the Argentine will show more clearly the attiEngland j and English ideas than a long _ dissertation oil the ethical standpoint of tho British as a community. It an Argentine wishes to impress upon a countryman the veracity, of his statement he.says, 'Palabra Inglesa' (the word of an Englishman'), and if an appointment is to be kept ho asks, is it English time?' which is synonymous with punctuality." . Sir Ernest Shackleton admits that before the war the Germans had gained successes m commerce in tho Argentine ftrom success in commciceit is but a step with the Germans to success and power in the field of politics," he says and success in tho field 'of politics would lead to success in tho acquisition °t te ™ to W J llis has ~een *!"> main ettort of Pan-Germanism in this great American continent.* Tho ill-timed and egregious policy of the military party in Germany came as a rude shock to Germans in South America, and put a ""on these moro subtlo methods. But though German activities are very apparent in tho Argentine and Chile, it must not be supposed.that tho people of these countries are themselves proGorman. . ..-' From the President down to tho peon, the conflagration is watched day by day with the.keenest interest, and with the sympathies that wouldnaturally be expected from acoun. try that for a hundred years, from a time whon she first gained a victory for liberty, has always, fought for ideals and not for acquisitions. Tho President of the Argentine is alive to the fact thatthe rights of smaller nations are in the halance, and that if Germany had succeeded in her onslaught on the moro poworful nations of Europe, she would nave been a ruthless and merciless taskmaster." , The oloctions held in the Argentine In March resulted in a sweeping victory for the Radicals, the party represented by the present President. Sir Ernest Shackleton insists that the Argentino President is pro-Ally in his sympathies, and he points to the generous" treatment accorded British and American warships in Argoutino ports, and to the official assistanco given tho Allies in tho negotiation of tho purchase of 2,500,000 tons of grain. In order to facilitate this purohase "the Argentine Government made a loan to tho Allies of £40,000,000 on reasonable terms. Turning to Chile, the famous, explorer explains that hero Gorman effort has been moro aggressive than in the Argentine. "Certain, districts in tho South of Chile have been almost Germanised; her army has been modelled on tho German army j schools havo been subsidised by German money, and of-late tho Chilian-German League has,been open in its endeavours, especially politically, to dominate tho country. But once, again the German was at faidt in his estimate of. tho psychology of nations and individuals. The bare-faced attempt to foist proGerman deputies on the country in the March elections has resulted in the overwhelming defeat of tho pro-German Clerical and Balmacedist Party. Chile is now awake to the danger that threatened her, and I venture to Say that as time goes on Gorman influence will weaken and the national idoals take tho premier place now that people arc alivo to tho once insidious, but lately moro open, efforts of tho Germans to attack the sovereignty of a'nalion that recognises and still enjoys an independence gained by British help than a hundred years ago. "As most readers aro aware, I myself owe a debt of gratitude to the Chilian Navy and people for tho rescue of my expedition in 1916. Like ourselves, the Chilians have a herilago of tho sea, and wo bono it may not be long beforo the fleet of Chile is also acting as warden of tho waters wif-h the Allies. All tenders of all nationalities must remember that their license to trado .was signed in. tho bitter trenches of France and Flanders, and that their commerce comes to .them in safety through the action of men ceaselessly watching, not only in summer seas, but with tholr faces

turned to .the stinging spindrift in tho wild winter Atlmitio weather. "With tho advent of tho Argoutino and Chile to the cause of the Allies, practically tho wholo of tho old and new worlds Bouth of th'o Equator will bo bringing a contribution to tho arch of 'freedom of which the foundations have been laid by tho sacrifices of tho Allies, and tho pillars have arisen by the- efforts of their arms.' Tho locking keystone may well'bo South America, making complete the uortal to tho path of permanent peace."