Evening star., 1932-06-12
WASHINGTON STEPPING
STONE TO PRESIDENCIES
Three Former Latin American EnvOys
Gain Power-Others Are Thrust
Into Limelight.

circles in the United States before he
finally departed for Bogota, to be in
augurated Chief Executive. He is still
sitting in the presidential chair of that
country. one Of the few to escape the
revolutionary wave which recently has
swept over Latin America.
At the beginning of last year the
Minister from Panama, Senor Ricardo
J. Alfaro, who also was the honorary
vice president (primer designado) Of
that country. was called by the Su-
preme Court of Panama to take over
the presidency of the republic. made
vacant by the resignation of President
Arosemena Two weeks later Senor AL
faro, one of the best known of Latin
diplomats in Washington. was inaugu-
rated President Of Panama. and in that
capacity he has been leading for the
past months in the reorganization of
that Central American state.
Only last week the third of recent
Latin American chiefs of mission in
Washington attained power. when Car
los Davila, until last year Ambassador
from Chile, was appointed provisional
President of that southernmost Latin
republic Senor Davila, the typical
representative Of twentieth century
diplomacy. was probably the most in
teresting figure of the Latin diplomatic
corps while he represented his country
before the White House.
Activities Here Recalled.
His selection to head the new gov
ernment of Chile has given an oppor-
tunity to newspapers in Washington to
recall his unusual activity in the propa-
ganda of Chilean products. his part in
the formation of the gigantic Cosach
nitrate combine with American capi-
tai, his airplane trips TO the four cor
ners of the United States to address
university or business groups, his ef-
forts in the solution of the Tacna
africa controversy, his lectures on Pan
Americanism. his attacks upon the
legend Of Yankee imperialism in South
America, and. last but not least, his
gay. informal parties at the embassy.
where newspaper men were at home.
The three colleagues of Presidents
Olaya, Alfaro and Davila, who are now
holding the leading cabinet posts in
their respective countries, and whose
names also have been mentioned as
possible successors to their present
chiefs. are Senor Argueta. then minister
from Honduras; Senor Tellez. then Am
bassador from Mexico, and Senor Fer
rara. until last month Ambassador from
Cuba.
In the case Of Senior Ferrara a con-
stitutional provision which bars for
eign-born citizens of Cuba from the
presidential post will prevent the popu-
lar former Ambassador from succeeding
| President Machado. as was inSistently
runored when he left Washington
Senior Ferrara, now Cuban foreign sec
retary, was born In Italy.
Another Nav Join List
Before the year is over another former
Minister from the southern continent
may Join the list CT Latin American
presidents who curing the life of the
present administration represented their
countries in Washington. He is Senor
Juan B. Sacasa, only a few months ago
at tie head of the Nicaraguan legation
here and now the candidate of the Lib
eral party fer the presidency in the
elections of next October. Considering
the vast majority which his party OBJ
tanned at the last presidential contest,
under American supervision, and the
overwhelming way in which the Mica
raguan people are rallying to his sup
port. Senor Sacasa's success seems
assured unless unexpected factors inter-
yene. The reader familiar with Latin
American politics will understand easily
what is meant by unexpected factors "
And to complete the list there is. too,
the other side of the picture. Senor
Castro Quesada. former Costa Rican
Minister, was defeated recently in the
presidential elections Of the small but
progressive Central American republic,
and upon his defeat embarked upon a
| wild, rebellious adventure. This re-
suited, as was expected. In a further
defeat, much more injurious to his cause
and his political reputation than the
one suffered at the polls.
| Which goes to show that, despite the
I growing Importance of the post and
the suggestive number of Latin Amer
ican presidents and prospective presi-
dents who three years ago sat at their
diplomatic offices in Washington, tc
| have been Minister before the White
House is not enough by itself to grant
admission to the White Houses on the
other side Of the Rio Grande.
| (Copyright, 1922