The media imperialism approach to studies of communications in South America lacks sensitivity to the historical dimension, and tends to define the issues of western media imperialism in the context of the United States post-World War II ascendancy to world power. Through an examination of the expansion of U. S. communication interests into Latin America prior to the war, a deeper appreciation of media imperialism as a complex historical phenomenon can be achieved. In 1898, the U. S. began a period of phenomenal economic and political expansion into Latin America, matched by the expansion of American communication interests in the region and an increase in the control by U. S. companies over Latin American communications media, particularly cable and radio. Much of this expansion was an effort to restrain European control and keep communications in the hands of the western hemisphere. At the end of World War I, North American news agencies successfully challenged European control over the distribution of foreign news to Latin American newspapers. North American interests also penetrated and soon controlled the Latin American film market, and North American exporters became major financial supporters of both print media and radio through advertising. Thus, by the end of World War II, U. S. commercial interests had already achieved a substantial degree of penetration into Latin American communications and media systems. The U. S. then faced the post-war era of world expansion with a partnership between government and media interests based on its experiences in Latin America. (HTH)