Evening star., 1931-12-27
SANTA UNABLE TO EASE
SOUTH AMERICAN STRIFE
"Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men"
Little in Evidence as Grave Issues
and Unrest Face Nations.

III Vic ulLSdGlSldCJOTI OIL IlB
short administration, and in the dicta-
torial methods he adopted, the same
methods that the deposed ruler, Presi-
dent Leguia. had employed for many
years to stifie public opposition
Yet, eight months after his expulsion
the fear of radical candidates threw to
his support the bulk of conservative ele-
ments and landowners, and once again,
/ several weeks ago, Sanchez Cerro be-
came President Of Peru. This time.
constitutionally- president, al
though he, more than anybody else,
must realize that it was due only to the
circumstances and the apprehensions Of
the conservatives, that he was elected
If to this you add that the govern
ment has only a slight majority in
Congress, and that the opposition Of
the Apristas becomes day by day more
energetic with the growing popularity
OF its leaders among the masses, you
Will readily see that the political hori-
zon IN Peru Is, also, very clouded
Josto's Task Difficult.
In the Argentine Republic where
early returns show that the election Of
Gen. Justo, former Minister of War in
the provisional government, Is virtually
foregone conclusion, the end of the
ELECTORAL period will not have ended
the difficulties of the political situation.
These difficulties do not exist be-
cause of popular opposition to the as
sumption of power by General Justo,
but mainly because of the uncertainty
as to what will be the attitude of the
present temporary government and
what its influence will be in the new
administration
The provisional government of Gen.
| eral Uriburu, which last wear over
threw the Irigoyen regime, has grown
very unpopular with the Argentine
public AS a report of the Foreign
Policy Association puts it: "Dtscon-
tent HAS been increasing and at least
once-on July 20, 1881, in the province
OF Corr1entes-an attempt was made to
overthrow the provisional government
by force. Dissatisfaction, moreover,
continues. A large section of the Par
| lido Radical believes that Uriburu's
veto of Alvear's candidacy is a definite
challenge and that the continuance Of
the state of siege, together with the
Provisional Presidents insistence on
his program of constitutional amend
ments Is violation Of the principles
of the revolution Only the events Of
the next few months will determine
whether the Uriburu regime is attempt
ing 10 establish dictatorship or to
restore constitutional government"
Future Is at Stake.
And on this alternative will depend,
of course. the preservation of internal
order in the Argentine Republic. The
! provisional government has given no
| indication, yet, as to when it will trans
! fer It's authority to regular regime
| most likely to be headed by General
Justo-but it is evident that any sus-
picion of its unwillingness to do So or
any unnecessary delay in doing it, may
result in serious political complications
in that country
Another President-elect who must
wait some time before he is formally
| inaugurated is Senor Bonifaz. who re-
Gently won the highest position in his
native land, Ecuador. The delay in
this case is particularly dangerous, due
to the fact that the election of Senor
Bonifaz was chiefly secured with the
support of the conservative elements,
who are in opposition to the present
authorities.
The present provisional regime Of
Ecuador, although presided over by
man Of great prestige. finds itself in
the peculiar position of having to keep
order and preserve the stability Of the
! government for q period of eight
months, SO that, at the end of it, the
man selected by its political enemies
may take charge. The dangers Of
such situation over such a long term
are obvious. The more so, when one
considers that for several decades the
Liberals have been in power, and that
the chances Of the Conservatives to
get hold of the government were, until
soon before the elections, not even
taken seriously.
Strive to Gain Favor.
movement is already in progress
to present the president-elect as
Conservative with Liberal tendencies.
This is aided by the fact that Senor
Bonlfaz. previous to his election. was
an independent element, alien to party
controversies, having spent most of his
time in Europe. The struggle Ito win"
the elected chief executive may result
IN surprising developments in Ecua-
dorian politics
In Chile, although the recently
elected president has already taken the
reins of government. the discomfort of
the left elements, which have a strong
hold on the masses. is still latent. The
election of Conservative Senor Mon
tero, and the support given him by
the wealthy classes. have definitely
caused a break in the Chilean popu-
lace
Radicals and working men. who in
Chile are better organized and have
more to say than in most South Ameri-
can countries, will do their utmost to
embarrass President Monteros admin
lstration. With economic conditions
failing to improve, they should not
have difficult task at that
In Panama and Costa Rica coming
presidential elections are under way in
earnest. In the former country all at
tempts to effect a truce between the
two parties supporting the administra-
tion have failed and the three-cor-
nered contest will inevitably grow Bit
ter as election time approaches. Elec-
rlon periods are seldom known for their
peacefulness in Central America. In
these times Of worldwide unrest they
can less than ever be so.
Brazil Faces Change.
Another change Of government must
soon take place in Brazil. where the
provisional authorities which came into
power more than a year ago with the
revolution are still controlling the ad-
ministration. BraZils return to a con-
stitutional regime may not be so smooth
as the apparent calmness of the Bra
lillian atmosphere may now indicate.
Add to all this the permanent threat
of new surprises in Nicaragua and Cupa
by "Sandinistas" and anti -Machadis-
tas,' respectively. and you will under
stand why 1 contend that whatever
Santa Claus brought to the Latin
Americans. it was certainly not politi-
cal tranquility and peace on earth.
good viii to men"
CCopyrisht, 1s319