Reds Exploit Hispanic Apathy

Latin America

1958 was communism’s year in Latin America. Facts apparent at year’s end: Stepped up activity of Soviet agents in Hispanic countries, and alarming indifference of public sentiment. In 1958 the Communist party (1) was legalized in Chile, (2) joined a coalition to elect a conservative president in Costa Rica; (3) helped oust a dictator in Venezuela; and (4) threw Argentina into a state of ferment.

Mexico is Latin America headquarters of Soviet infiltration. All Red satellite countries maintain large embassies in Mexico. The Russian embassy alone boasts a staff of over 900 trained operators. No one can guess how many agents are scattered throughout the continent. But their espionage and indoctrination are backed by a tidal wave of literature and propaganda.

Communists now publish 135 periodicals in Spanish and Portuguese (28 of these were launched in the last 12 months). Radio Moscow is on the air in Spanish 100 hours a week. Even Radio Peking devotes 14 hours weekly to Spanish propaganda.

More than 1700 Latin American travelers went behind the Iron Curtain in 1958—one-third of them to receive Soviet indoctrination.

In many Latin American countries, indoctrination schools for agents, sympathizers and children are conducted openly. Communist literature is distributed by mail. The hammer and sickle is a familiar sign on political posters and handbills.

An increasing tempo of Communist activities has been noted even since August, when Nikita Khrushchev and Mao Tse-Tung reportedly agreed to devote more attention to Latin America.

Target countries at present appear to be Venezuela and Argentina. In October, the Russian government granted Argentina a $100 million loan. And while most party expenses are borne locally, Vision magazine calculates that about $30 million (largely outside money) was spent in Argentina for propaganda last year. Argentine Communists are currently conducting a drive to boost total party membership from 80,000 to 100,000.

The arrest of Manuel Fortuny in Brazil highlighted the acute situation in Venezuela at election time. Fortuny, the exiled chief of the Communist party in Guatemala, has been traveling back and forth to Russia under assumed names.

He seems to be emerging as bossman of Latin American infiltration. On his last trip he had entered Argentina to cross into Brazil and Venezuela when caught by Rio de Janeiro police.

The purpose of his intended visit to Venezuela could be easily guessed. The Communist party, after joining hands with Catholics to depose dictator Perez Jimenez, became the strongest political factor in the pre-election confusion, leading and dominating the liberal groups. Venezuela has 30,000 registered Communists whose influence on the labor unions and universities was dramatically evident on the occasion of Vice President Richard M. Nixon’s visit to Caracas.

Although Venezuela and Argentina are in most conspicuous ferment, the shadow of the hammer and sickle can be discerned in every Latin American country—in the copper mines of destitute Chile, the tin mines of inflation-racked Bolivia, universities of Lima, Quito and Bogota.

But most alarming of all is the apparent popular indifference to the Red infiltration. Official recognition and a shrug of the shoulder is the typical reaction. Costa Rica’s Communist boss, Manuel Mora, exiled for his share in the frauds and bloodshed of 1948, is back in the country practicing law. At a recent political rally, he spoke immediately after the president from the steps of the Presidential Palace. Few people seem concerned about the Communist menace. To this day, most Argentines think the Guatemalan revolution was simply a U. S. propaganda stunt. And when a missionary, returning to Argentina, commented on the apparent increase of communism there, a leading evangelical layman “poo-pooed” his fears as Yankee witch-hunting.

It is not strange that dictatorships and revolution should breed in Latin America, a continent for centuries under the feudal thumb of Rome. As the sleeping giant wakes, he stretches and bursts the ancient bonds.

And the naturalism of Marx, tangible, here-and-now, seems to offer what modern man needs. He wants potatoes, not platitudes. The earthy religion of the Reds cannot be fought, therefore, with the empty trappings and dead traditions of Romanism. Only an evangelical, supernatural faith can save Latin America—a faith which is not afraid of its social conscience, nor of sacrificial discipline, but which is essentially a regenerating miracle—in short, a New Testament faith.

Back For A Rest

Mrs. Elisabeth Elliot and Miss Rachel Saint returned to civilization this month after almost eight weeks of living with the Auca Indians of Ecuador.

It was reported that the two women missionaries came back for a rest, and not because of any unexpected difficulties.

Thus was completed a significant contact with the tribe that killed Mrs. Elliot’s husband, Miss Saint’s brother, and three other young missionaries in 1956. They were accompanied back by Quechua Indians.

Mrs. Elliot, who was accompanied by her four-year-old daughter, Valerie, planned an early return to the tribe.

Contient Of Africa

Nigeria’S Open Door

The Premier of Northern Nigeria, a Muslim, told a special session of the Sudan Interior Mission this month that self-government will bring no change in the government’s friendly attitude toward Christian missions.

“The differences in our religions need be no bar to our continuing to work together for the good of our people,” said Alhaji Ahmadu, Sardauna of Sokoto.

Nigeria is to become completely independent from Britain by October, 1960.

The Sardauna spoke by his own request to council members and African representatives of SIM. Church leaders who have been watching Islam’s attitude toward Christian missions considered the Premier’s move a highly significant gesture showing the government’s desire to win the confidence of Christian minorities. The Sardauna holds the second highest rank among Muslims in Northern Nigeria, which is the only area in the world besides Saudi Arabia where there is strict adherence to Islamic law.

“Earlier this year,” the Premier said, “we sent delegations consisting of both Muslims and Christians to Libya, Pakistan and the Sudan—all newly independent and predominantly Muslim—in order to study how their governments manage the difficult business of looking after people of different races and creeds.”

The Premier’s good will and tolerance may, in turn, influence the policies of other Muslim countries watching how Africa’s most populous nation solves her religious problems.

The Sardauna stated that the educational progress of the region was in part due to the “devoted work” of the missionaries and that the government would continue to welcome foreign workers.

“The Christian holds a special place in the regard of Muslims throughout the world,” he said. “If I add that in the past there have been occasions when we have sometimes felt that our regards were not reciprocated, then I do so in the hope that you may all understand that it is my fervent prayer that these differences can and will be overcome.”

“The most earnest hope of my government,” he added, “is that contained in the beautiful thought and language of the Christmas message—that there shall be peace on earth and good will to all men.”

The regional government of Northern Nigeria has stated that “all persons are absolutely at liberty to practice their beliefs according to their conscience. The government does not intend to place any curb on the religious activities of missionaries or on their right to receive converts amongst other religions.”

To the Sudan Interior Mission, largest interdenominational mission in Africa, the Premier’s talk was a significant landmark. It was an encouraging contrast to reports of closing doors elsewhere.

W. H. F.

No Enmity

Sudan Interior Mission’s 61 workers in the Sudan weathered last month’s army coup with no adverse effects.

General Ibraham Abboud, commander-in-chief of the Sudanese army, said the new regime bore “enmity to no one” and wanted to “transform corruption into integrity.”

SIM observed its 65th anniversary in West Africa December 4. Work began in 1893 in what was then termed western Sudan—now Northern Nigeria and surrounding territories just south of the Sahara. Entering the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (now the Sudan proper) in 1938 when missionaries were forced out of Ethiopia by the Italian invasion, SIM went on to establish 11 stations there.

“We expect continued freedom to preach the gospel in these areas,” said Dr. A. D. Helser, general director of SIM. “Abboud has assured all foreign communities of the safety of their persons, property, and funds. This is a day when Christians must move quickly to fulfill the Great Commission.”

W. H. F.

Continent Of Australia

Together Again?

The Rt. Rev. Hugh Rowland Gough, Suffragan Bishop of Barking (near London, England) was elected Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, last month by the Sydney Anglican Synod.

Gough took a leading part in arranging Billy Graham’s London evangelistic meetings. His election in Sydney may foreshadow another cooperative effort with Graham, for the evangelist begins his Australian crusade early in 1959.

Gough would assume the post made vacant by the October death of Dr. Howard W. K. Mowll, who had been appointed chairman of the executive committee for the forthcoming Graham crusade. The Chief Justice of Victoria, Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring, was named to succeed Mowll as committee chairman.

Mowll had held the bishopric of the traditionally evangelical see of Sydney since 1933. He became Primate of Australia nine years ago. He was born at Dover, England, educated at King’s School, Canterbury, King’s College and Ridley Hall, Cambridge. After ordination in the Church of England, he served in England for a time before being appointed a tutor in Wycliff College in Toronto, Canada. He became professor in 1916 and dean in 1919. He was sent to Western China as an assistant bishop in 1922, and four years later was made bishop.

Said CHRISTIANITY TODAY Correspondent Leon Morris: “While he was always courteous and fair to those of other points of view he made no secret of his evangelical views. He was always ready to set forth the preaching of the Gospel. His evangelical faith and his personal qualities endeared him to many. Small wonder that the verdict of many Sydney-siders is, ‘We shall never again look on his like!’ ”

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