Evening star., 1932-01-31

TINE establishment of martial
law" throughout the country by
the provisional government OF
i El Salvador and the Commu-
niStic uprising of last week give
an indication of the seriousness OF
the political situation in that Central
American state.
The martial law, or state of siege,
as it is called in the Latin republics,
was decreed by the Salvadorean author
tiles to avoid further Communistic dis
orders When the present temporary
government of Salvador was trying to
convey abroad the idea that it had un-
contested popular support at home, the
recourse to martial law will newt ably
weaken its argument for international
recognition.
Besides, if I remember well, the
charge that President Araujo had
maintained the country for several
months in a state of siege" was pre-
cisely one of the reasons given by the
present authorities to overthrow his
regime last December. Does this latest
step of the Salvadorean rulers mean
that the situation has not changed with
the change of government?
Prediction Recalled.
Only a few weeks ago. when the
coup detat," executed by a group OF
young army officers, brought to an
abrupt end the short rule of Constitu-
tional President Araujo, l said the fol-
lowing: THE assumption of the reins
of government by Vice President Mar
tinez, after the expulsion of President
Arauio, has not ended the trouble.
Perhaps it has only started it, be-
cause it has brought again to power
the military clique which had for many
years been absent from Salvadorean
politics. Besides, considerations of an
international character, derived from
the Washington treaty cf 1923, prevent
the recognition Of the new Salvadorean
government as it is now established,
and this will only contribute to COM
plicate the problem"
While domestic unrest seems to be
confirming this prediction. the COM
ing meeting of the National Assembly,
recently elected, adds interest to the
question of the legal status of the pres
ent government. The various ways
which may be followed to solve the
problem created by the non-recognition
provisions of the 1923 treaty are being
eagerly discussed.
The fact that the members OF the
new Assembly were elected without de-
liberation soon after the completion Of
the coup d'etat, and with the support
of the newly established authorities,
will perhaps impair the confidence in
the right of the Assembly, in the eyes
of foreign opinion, to pass upon the
present order of things.
Apprehension Grows.
Besides, the presence of several pow
erful military leaders in the temporary
government now in control-and the
circumstance that the army played a
prominent role in the overthrow of the
Araujo regime-add to the apprehen-
sions of those who fear that the mill
tary will influence the course of events
Relatively speaking, Salvador has the
largest army in Latin America. In
proportion to its size it has a percent
age of nearly 9 enlisted men, includ-
ing reserves, for each 100 inhabitants
Probably it is this strong army that
has given Salvador greater stability
than her neighbors.
Until the ousting of President Araujo
two months ago, no government had
been overthrown by force in that
country for the last three decades. But
just as the army was decisive factor