• Latin America
The Evolution of Modern Latin America. By R. A. Humphreys. (Oxford University Press. 78. 6d.)
DR. HUMPHREYS has made a timely and most valuable contribution to the literature on Latin America. It is timely because there is need at this juncture fo survey the scene and assess, in so far as that is possible, the part that Latin America may play in the affairs of the nations. And it is valuable because it is up to date, well informed and accurate. During the war, Dr. Humphreys had unique opportunities of keeping a close scrutiny on the Press and literature of the Latin American republics. Indeed, it was almost a public duty that he should make available the results of his studies to those interested in the region but preoccupied with other wartime occupations—a duty which he has admirably fulfilled in his book. It is, incidentally, one of the very few books on Latin America written by Englishmen which I have read, which is completely free of misspelt names.
The book deals with Latin America in the broad • it discusses the main lines of historical and political evolution, the effects of immigration and the relations of the region as a whole to the United States and to Europe. Two chapters pursue the special development of the major States, Argentina and Brazil, Chile and Mexico. In this way Dr. Humphreys makes a compromise between the temptations which always assail the writers of general works on Latin America. O'n the one hand it is difficult, in so vast a territory, to avoid lucubrations on the various republics seriatim, a method which is apt to make a book into a catalogue. On the other, there are such variations of theme and scena in the area that some particularisation becomes unavoidable.
It necessarily follows that many important aspects of the subject must be left untreated. There is little said of the social problems of the republics, the state of public health, the progress of educa- tion, the developtilent of the arts or the influence of the Church. Their omission was obviously inevitable. But it would have been useful if Dr. Humpaeys had given some indication of the aspects of his subject to which study could best be directed.
His treatment leaves certain outstanding impressions. Of late years much has been heard of the growth of the influence of the United States in Latin America. The days when the theme-song of " United States' marines in Nicaragua " was an almost inevitable chorus in any students' demonstration are long since past ; the Good Neighbour policy has been actively and not unsuccessfully pursued ; and only the quarrel with 'Argentina is outstanding. Nevertheless there are very strong reasons why the South American republics, in particular, will continue to maintain their links with Europe, where they have found important customers and from which they have drawn the basic elements of their population. Internally, it seems doubtful whether the problem of a stable constitutionalism in government has yet been solved. In this respect the story of Argen- tine politics from 193o onwards is not encouraging, any more than is that of Brazil during the same period.
But Brazil does emerge from Dr. Humphreys' account in relatively bright colours. Her monarchy in the nineteenth century, although it condoned too many evils for too long, did afford a surprising measure of political stability. The danger of so vast a country falling apart politically was averted, and Brazil's policy in relation to her neighbours was, at the same time, pacific and successful. Her resources are considerable ; the advantages of her position in the continent and her long Atlantic coastline are undeniable. Her
foreign affairs generally, and her relations with the- United States in particular, have been skilfully conducted, and in 1944, when a Brazilian expeditionary force was sent to Italy, an army from the New World south of the Rio Grande fought in the Old for the
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