Evening star., 1931-12-27
BY GASTON NERVAL.

fnd Latin America In the
proper Yuletide spirit of Peace
" on Earth and Good Will to
Men," In his journey through
the Latin republics lying on the other
side of the Rio Grande, Santa Claus
found most of them confronted with
critical internal problems and agitated
by political unrest.
Some of them just out Of revolu-
tionary adventures, others on the eve OF
presidential elections, nearly all Of them
in the midst of period of political re-
organization which started with the
sweeping epidemic of upheavals year
and half ago. And the last chapters
of which do not seem to be, as yet,
written.
Only few days ago, there was re-
volt in Ell Salvador, and thus the small
Central American republic, when one
Latin republics having recently exper-
fenced violent changes in government.
Not many weeks before that, the
President Of Paraguay had been forced
to hand in his resignation, although the
crisis was easily averted there by the
assumption of power by the constitu-
tional vice president, who Is now head
ing the destinies of that country.
Seemed to Have Escaped.
Both Salvador and Paraguay seemed
to have escaped the wave of domestic
| turmoil which upset other Latin Amer
ican governments in the last two years.
Political conditions in those two coun-
tries evidently were not the same pre-
vailing in their sister republics. The
Salvadorians had scarcely few months
ago held the most liberal presidential
elections and inaugurated as their chief
executive a man who seemed to have
strong popular support. The Paragua-
yans were not oppressed by dicta-
torial or arbitrary regime like those
| which their neighbors had been obliged
to overthrow by force of arms.
The fall-down Of the Paraguayan and
Salvadorian Presidents was therefore
| received with surprise. Particularly the
| latter for the change in Paraguay had
| at least an explanation in the opposition
| of certain groups to the international
policy of the ousted President. At any
| rate, in both cases the military ele-
ments played an important role. 1t
was plainly shown that neither Para
quay nor Ell Salvador had completely
escaped the epidemic And thus two
more countries were added to the Latin
American list of political students who
ere observing carefully the changes re-
sulting from this widespread continen-
| tai unrest.
Peru Torn By Revolt.
But Salvadorians and Paraguayans
| are by no means the only one confront
ed with political agitation at the pres
ent moment. Almost at the same time
that President Araujo was being exiled
from Salvadorian territory a newly
elected President was inaugurated in
Peru amidst strong protests of the op-
| position parties. These resulted in
| bloody incidents in the interior of that
country and for moment threatened
another armed uprising
Chile also was recently the theater Of
presidential Inauguration. And there,
too, the Left elements. who opposed the
candidacy of the elected Chief Execu-
tive, make no efforts to conceal their
discomfort and promise Senor Montero
trying term in Office
| Argentina and Ecuador Just had
presidential elections which were far
more peaceful than generally expected,
| but the results of which have created
situations rather difficult to handle for
the present temporary rulers of Buenos
| Aires and Quito. Many things NAV
happen before the elected candidates
actually take their oaths
| In Panama and Costa Rica election
time is just around the corner. And
with its proximity. growing political ac-
tivities and trouble appear more GER
tain. The presidential candidates do
not seem to be in a Christmas mood
at all.
And last, but not least, revolutionary
bombs continue to explode from time
to time in the streets of Havana. Cuba,
and exalted Sandinists are still bump
| ing off, Marines and loyal Nicaraguans
from week to week in the mountains of
Nueva Segovia.
Stability Is Uncertain.
The picture that Latin America pre-
sents es the new year arrives with its
argosy of hopes, promises and plans is
not very encoura ging one from a
point OF view of political stability and
order
To begin with, the internal situation
in El Salvador is not at all cleared up.
The assumption Of the reins of govern
ment by Vice President MARTINEZ, after
the expulsion of President Arauio, has
not ended the trouble. Perhaps, as
said in commenting upon the Saliva
dorian situation few days ago, strife
! has only started, as it has brought
again to power the military cast which
for many years had been out of Saliva
dorian politics
AS long as the officers OF the Saliva
dorian Army remain outside their mill
tary headquarters, attempting to dictate
the course Of domestic politics, and
until new civil government has been
established which has popular support.
the possibilities of new complications
and delays in restoring normality re-
main outstanding.
Moreover, there Is another factor to
conf6se the situation, one which has an
international character. The provisions
of the Washington treaty of 1923 pre-
vent the recognition of the revolution
airy government of El Salvador by any
Of the Central American countries. Or
by the United States. The United
States, not a party to the treaty, but
as matter Of fact it's sponsor and
guarantor. has pledged itself 10 follow
the policy adopted in the treaty and
deny recognition to any Central Amer
lean regime not born constitutionally.
Martinez Is Barred.
Acting President Martinez is barred
from recognition by a clause in the
treaty which specifies that no person
having held post in the cabinet of the
ousted regime, within six months previ-
Gus to the revolt, can be recognized as
chief executive. Senor Martinez was
minister of war of the Araujo adminis-
tration until few days before the
coup d'etat."
And all the military and civil leaders
of the revolution also are barred, for
the Washington Treaty provides that no
one having had part in political
uprising in Central America. nor a
relative of his. can be recognized as the
head of the newly established regime.
Which goes only TO prove that the