Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-16
BY REX COLLIER.

President-elect HooverS first official
move after his arrival in Santiago,
capital Of Chile, was to pay formal
call on President Carlos IbaneZ, the
MuSsolini of South America.
Mr.. Hoover rode to the presidential
palace amid great pomp. Gen. Ibanez
had turned over to his distinguished
guest one Of the ornate carriages OF
state and had assigned the famous
presidential lancerS, mounted on white
horses, as an escort.
The broad white building, with its
tall stone columns, iron-barred windows
and lofty balustrades, seemed to reflect
the firm character of its dauntleSs
occupant.
The American President-elect found
Chile's President to be a man whose
commanding military mien clothes a
nature dominated by attributes of
courtliness and cordiality.
Gen. Ibanez had qualities of leader
ship that had elevated him to the
helm Of virtual dictatorship In Chile.
He had become President Of the Re-
public through series of bloodleSs
revolutions, during which he had en-
gtneered a FaSciSt-like movement aimed
at the rising tide Of bolshevism in his
country.
In furtherance of his crusade against
radicalism, Gen. Ibanez had assumed
control Of the government early In 1927.
This had been achieved by his ap-
pointment as Vice President and the
granting" of a leave Of absence" to
the incumbent President, who later re-
signed. The retiring executive was
rewarded" with an appointment as
Chilean delegate to the League of
Nations. Gen. Ibanez became head of
the governmental first by right of
accession and then by almost unan-
imous election of the people.
Radicalism HarI Hit.
The Ibanez dictatorship had
played havoc with radicalism in Chile.
Hundreds of agitators were deported.
newspapers were suppressed and even
government officers In high posts were
sent out Of the country. The political
reforms included reorganization of the
army and navy along patriotic" lines
and institution of drastic economic
steps. Among the latter were the
pruning of the federal payroll, efforts
to balance the national budget and eS-
Enlistment Of technical research de-
partment to rehabilitate the nitrate in
dustry by introduction of new ex-
traction processes.
Mr.. Hoover manifested intense In
terest in Chile's economic problems.
Chile, he knew, was q fruitful market
for American capital, many hundreds
OF millions Of dollars having been In
vested there in recent years. The gov
eminent itself had borrowed nearly
500 ,000, 900 in the United States to
meet deficits. AS political economist,
Mr.. Hoover Is said to have studied
closely this influx Of outside capital
and to have indicated his pleasure that
much OF the borrowed money was be-
ing invested in public enterprises Of
permanent benefit to the people.
Gen. Ibanez promptly returned the
call made by President-elect Hoover,
riding under heavy military escort to
the American embassy. There he in
vited Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover to be his
guests at state luncheon In the pal
ace on the morrow.
In the wake Of President Tbanez and
his retinue came hundreds of Chilean
notables and members of the foreign
colony. The Americans later partici-
pated In special reception at the pre-
tentious Union Club, where Mr.. and
MIS-. hoover SHOOK nanQS With scores
OF their admirers from "the States
and partook of light refreshments.
Meanwhile other members Of the good
will party were being feted regally by
the government and by the citizenry
Sightseeing and shopping tours were ar
ranged. There were automobile rides
through Santiago's beautiful boulevards
among which may be mentioned the
spacious Alameda, and visits to her fine
buildings. such as the Congress- Nacional
and the National Library. A marvellous
view of the entire city was obtained from
the sylvan heights of Cerro Santa Lucia
a 200-foot mound Of rock which rises ir
the heart of the capital to form the
city's most captivating park and open.
air resort.
The Hoovers remained over night a.
guests of Ambassador CulbertSon at the