Evening star., 1917-10-14
By CHARLES M. PEPPER.

8 Argentina a bar to the progress of
South American solidarity against
Germany?
The question has been raised
nswhat anxiously since both branches
the Argentine congress voted to
>Ak on relations with Germany. and
psident Irigoyen. nevertheless. takes
steps to carry out the mandate of
congress. Instead. so far as can be
4ged by the news from Buenos Aires.
placed himself squarely against con-
bss.
ne whole situation is a most inter-
ting one. Ultimately the question to
determined is whether the executive
III balk not only congress. but the
blic sentiment of the country. since
Argentine people are strongly anti
man. They showed this when there
p q popular outbreak. and the Ger
In consulate was attacked and the
vernment found difficulty in repress-
further attacks. The anti-German
htiment grows rather than diminishes
In each effort of the executive to curb
x
Argentine had grievances against
rnany fully as deep as those of Bra
and other South American countries.
Berlin made some concessions on
per by promising to restrict the sub
Urine warfare on Argentine vessels
make reparation for the destruc-
b already caused This was promis-
Argentina more than Germany had
bn willing to promise the United
ties. but there was no reason to place
faith in German promises There
3se there are so few Argentine ves-
In European waters German sub
rines might not find many of them
sink without warning.
President Irigoyen was exerting him
to soothe Argentine sentiment into
keptfng the German assurances. when,
te unexpectedly, Secretary Lansing
ICED before the government. through
Argentine ambassador in Washing
the evidence that Count Luxburg.
German minister In Buenos Aires,
been abusing his diplomatic posi-
communfcate with Berlin. even to the
TENT of advising that IL the subma-
b policy was to be continued the Ar
ntine vessels should be sunk SO as to
We no trace. Just what additional
formation was contained in the 400
ble- messages which Secretary Lam
3 turned over to the Argentine gov
ment is conjectural. but there was
bugh In the one made public to rouse
bular indignation in Argentina to the
hest pitch.
he Luxburg disclosures were stunning.
they did not sem to perturb President
gUyen- The German minister was sent
Of tho country-just where and how
hody knows-and the executive ap-
red to be satisfied that enough had
Ientine Republic without formally
alking OF diplomatic relations and 20
TO war with Germany. That is still
iOue between the executive and the
puth Americans In the United States
ched the lrst developments with
aSement and then settled down to
hjttng further developments with keen
1Apation that something would happen.
At the State Department in Washing
thinks Is not made known through
public expression. but it undoubtedly
lolng q lot Of thinking.
ouch interest has been aroused in the
snfine president since this diplomatic
ldsut In vague way 1t had been
larstood that the political groups which
srned Argentina for the last twenty
years had been eciipsed at the last
etion. and in a more vague way it was
hGrStood that q new force in Argentine
ificD had brought about the change.
fhsfe was little explanation of the
-
ujogistic sketches of President Iri-
n were printed in the United States,
the impression obtained from them
that he was a rugged personality
b very pronounced ideas Of his own
nr6tn8 public affairs. but without much
ogience In them. This impression was
rect He was elected president by what
Known rs the radical party. on a plat
% which might be translated into Eng
~ "retrenchment and reform" He
chosen under an absolutely secret
pt in which voting is compulsory
=. election undoubtedly represented the
valiing popular sentiment A man of
nth himself. he nevertheless was op-
- to what In this country would be
- the czpitalistic ciasses. though that
~ tho term used In Argentina Abuses
BUvefnment had grown up. and there