Figure 1.--The Japanese Government after Pearl Harbor (Decemnber 1941) commissioned the Spanish Embassy in Bogata to represent Jaopanese residents, mostly farmers in Cauca Department. The Spanish Government at the fime was the Franco dictatorship with Fascist leanings. Here is a Japanese family at El Jagual in Cauca Deoartmeht during 1942. The Japanese farmers wuth few exceptions were not interned, but their movemebnt was restricted.

Colombia had small numbers of residents from Axis countries. The German population had developed over tume and was of some ecomomic significancee, especially in air transport. About 4,000 Germans lived in Colombia. Given the proximity to the Panama Canal, this was of some concern to the Americans. There were also Itlalians living in Colombia, but we are unsure about the numbers. They mostly cane from from Veneto and Tuscany, quite different than the American pattern. Unlike the Grrmans, they were not involved in keyh economic sectors. The were engaged in commerce and restaurants/hotels, but a few had large farm holdings. Japanese immigration began, mostly farmers (1920s). There was a small farming community in Cauca Deoartmernt--sourhwestern Colombia. Colombians as was the case throughout Latin America were unaware of NAZI racial doctrine other than hatred of Jews. There was no public knowledge of how the NAZIs mixed race populations such as mestizos. We suspect tht the German residents were aware of this, but not the Colombians. At the outbreak of World War II, Colombia's Scadta Airline althoiugh controlled by PanAm had been German employees. All of its pilots were Germans, some with reserve commissions in the Lufwaffe. It flew routes that were uncomfortably close to the Panama Canal for the United States. And it had modern photographic survey facilities. The American Panair airlines controlled by Panam had a small interest. The State Department pressed Panair and the Colombian Governent on this. As a result Panair took control. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Colombia broke diplomatic relations with not only Japan, but the other Axis powers as well, but did not declare war as many other Latin American countries did. Military cooperation with the United States began before America entered the War. Colombia had been receiving air and naval support from Switzerland and Britain. As war approached in Europe, the cost and obsolence of Swiss aid concerns with Britain caused Colombian officials to look to the United States (1939). [Leonard and Bratzel] An American naval and military aviation missions arrived in Colombia (January 1939) There were also diplomatic consulations over the Canal. With the Fall, both countries saw the need for closer cooperation. The concept of Inter-American collective security was established at the Second Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Havana Cuba (July 1940). American and Colombian officilas began hammering out an agreement (September 1940). This involved access to military facilities and the exchange of technical advisers, cooperation on coastal patrols, and the aerial photographing of strategic areas within Colombia. Colombian was sensative to American involvement, thus unlike several other Latin American countrues, there were no American military constructiin projects in Colombua. Colombia participated in the American Lend-Lease program. America provided some $16.5 million in military assistance on favorable terms. The purchases were made at half price and without intetest. The American Export-Import Bank provided $20 million for highway construction, $10.3 million for agricultural programs, and another $3.5 million to build a hydroelectric plant. It also issued a loan for low-cost housing construction. And American companies private investment reached $200 million (by 1943). [Leonard and Bratzel] - Colombia produced small quantiies of oil which it exported to the Allies. A German U-boat, the U-505 sunk a Colombian schooner. Colombia in response declared a 'status of belligerency' against Germany (November 26, 1943). The German ambassador departed. Actions were initited against German nationals, including internment. Scadta had aerial photograpohy of Colombian and German cities. These were handed over to American authorities. The oinly military engagement was an indecisive encounter with U-154 (March 1944). After the War, Colombia shipped Nestle products (coffee, baby food, etc.) and coal to war devestated Europe.

Sources

Leonard, Thomas M. and John F. Bratzel. Latin America during World War II (Rowman & Littlefield: 2007).

Created: 6:35 PM 1/24/2021
Last updated: 6:35 PM 1/24/2021