Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1941. DEFENCE OF THE AMERICAS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1941. DEFENCE OF THE AMERICAS.

TN his emphatically critical comments on what, he declares to be a military agreement, concluded by the Vichy Government with Nazi Germany, the American Secretary of State (Air Cordell Hull) has made it manifest that the United Stales feels its own interests and security to be definitely and seriously involved in this matter. The official reports he had received, Air Hull declared “confirmed that Franco-German collaboration would be dangerous to the Western Hemisphere.’’ As lo this, there is, of course, no mystery. It is now recognised freely by the American Government and by a very ’ great majority of the American people that the future freedom of the United Slates is at stake in the war Britain and her allies are waging against the totalitarian dictatorships. On the broadest grounds, it is thus natural and inevitable that the action of the Vichy Government in turning from a policy of neutrality to one of positive “collaboration’’ with the Axis in flic war should lie resented as keenly in the United States as in the British Empire. There are particular factors, also, which in the circumstances now developing must weigh heavily with the American Government and people. .Most important in this category is the extent to which the Nazi menace in Batin America is likely to be intensified by the servility and treachery of the men of Vichy. Amongst other things, it is appreciated clearly and keenly in the United States that if the Nazis gain possession and control of the port of Dakar, in French West Africa, their powers and opportunities of making mischief in the Latin American countries will be increased dangerously. The Nazi menace in South America is already of serious proportions and the acquisition by Germany of an African air base from which she could easily establish commiinieations with her agents in the Latin American republics obviously is not a development to be tolerated if it can be prevented. Both economically and politically, the Nazis have gained a considerable, if partly concealed, hold on the life of a number of South American States. An invasion by Hitler of the Western Hemisphere, a Washington correspondent (Mr Roscoe Drummond) wrote recently, “not first by air and by sea, but.by Nazi fifth-column undermining of South American governments, is the real concern of the United States.’’ That (the same writer added) is the problem of Western Hemisphere defence which confronts the United States and which is giving increased concern to the highest American officials. And that is one of the important factors which causes the United States to help Britain defeat Nazism in Europe rather than wait to confront it in the Americas. As to the extent to which Nazi fifth-column activity lias already been organised in South America, specific information has been given in the report, of the Congressional Committee investigating un-American activities. 'The chairman of that committee. Mr Martin Dies, declared not long ago that on the basis of reports received from citizens of Latin-American countries and from organisations outside the Hinted Slates, fully 1 .()()().()()() Germans, so disciplined that they “can be depended upon by the Reich,” are now in Latin America, ready for any economic, or military action which Hitler may direct. Air Dies added that until a few months ago. the Nazi Government had forces “thoroughly organised” in Mexico, but that lately the Mexican Government, had taken a. firmer hand and cleared up the situation considerably. When I speak of ‘at least 1,000,000 Germans in South America (Mr Dies explained), I mean disciplined Germans, a large percentage of whom have had previous military training in their homeland and who are completely under the control of the Reich. The armies of some of the republics, it is known, have been trained by German officers. I am convinced from reports I have received . . . that if Hitler considers it necessary, he will take actions in South American countries, possibly as soon as May. These actions, it appears, would be to use the secret organisations to take over certain governments for the purpose of a nuisance value to the United States and to obtain raw materials. It appears also from this information that Third Reich Germans in certain South American countries are only awaiting orders to start from within to overthrow the present governments. It great ly affects the position that'the South American republics are on the whole politically unstable and of no great, military strength. In the far from simple and vitally necessary task of countering Nazi infiltration and intrigue in South America, the United States-Government is bound to take serious account of the prestige value to the Nazis of an air-base in Wesl Africa. As yet there have been only unofficial suggestions that the United States should forestall the Nazis by seizing Dakar. As a. means, however, both of countering Nazi machinations in South America and of averting an extended threat to Atlantic communications between the United Slates and Britain, that course of act ion appears to have the st rongesl claims to praet ieal consideration.