THE AMERICAS: Good Partners

To the Monroe Doctrine for the defense of the hemisphere, and the Good Neighbor policy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Eisenhower Administration has already made one notable addition with its formula of the Good Partner (TIME, Dec. 6). Last week in New Orleans, Vice President Richard Nixon set forth before a meeting of the Inter-American Press Association a further guiding philosophy for the relationship between the U.S. and its 20 Latin American neighbors. Said Nixon:

"Our philosophy is based upon a profound respect for the dignity and sanctity of the individual. We believe that the state exists in order to insure a more rich and abundant life for its citizens. We reject the totalitarian philosophy that the welfare of citizens should be sacrificed in order to contribute to the prestige of the state.

"We believe that a powerful nation has no inherent right to be surrounded by satellites. Each state, no matter how small, is entitled to recognition of its independence and equality under international law. The smallest state should have the same confidence as the largest that its sovereignty and territorial integrity will be respected. We reject the Communist philosophy that stronger states should take from weaker states lying within the orbit of their power. Stronger states should contribute to the development and welfare of less-developed states."

Then, to prove U.S. willingness to back up high ideals with hard cash, the Vice President promised his Latin-American neighbors: "Our Government will continue its policy of offering generous sources of official loans for every sound economic development project elsewhere in the hemisphere for which capital is not reasonably forthcoming from private sources or from other official lending agencies such as the International Bank. We know that what harms one member of the American family harms all, and what helps one helps all."