Evening star., 1932-05-08
LATIN AMERICAS FREE
FROM LABOR AGITATION
Labor Day Passes Quietly in Spite of Fact
That Circumstances Have Never Been
More Propitious in Favor of Revolt.

ments OF order and the established
financial intereStS-and place in safety
their properties and jobs.
The results Of the elections in Chile,
Peru and Ecuador, showed that the
people in those Latin American
countries were not yet in q mood TO
gamble with the future.
Radicals Opposed.
In the meantime, in other Latin
American republics more s-xzz and
open Communist movements were ener-
getically suppressed by the authorities.
In these cases, also, the sympathies
OF public opinion appeared decidedly
against the radicals.
The governments Of Mexico Guate-
mala, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay,
had no difficulty at all in arousing
popular opinion to support their cam
palgn against internal Communist ac-
tivitieS.
A typical example of such sentiment
was afforded, a few months ago, by
the Communist rebellion in El Salvador.
When the news Of Red revolt in the
interior OF the country reached the
capital Of El Salvador, the population
OF the city, en- maSse. rallied behind the
government, without distinction OF
political creeds or classes. And this,
IN spite OF the fact that the government
was only a provisional one, which had
been denied recognition by the neigh
boring states and by Washington. in
view OF It's incompatibility with the
treaties of 1923.
The revolt was, of course, easily
squelched. But the approval with
which the severe penalties imposed
upon its leaders was received by the
public OF all Central America, showed
once more that the cause of the Com
mun1sts did not enjoy particular favor
in that region.
Soon afterward, only last month. a
communist plot discovered by the
Guatemalan authorities resulted. much
TO the complacency of popular senti-
ment, In the execution of an inter-
national Red agitator.
am not discussing the advantages
or disadvantages of Communism for
Latin America. This is a dificuIt task.
particularly when there are two such
dlferent Communisms as the Com
munlsm OF theory and the one carried
out Dy practice. / am only recording
1actS In regard to the Communist sit
uatlon In the other half of the Western
hemisphere. And the stern. energetic
campaign of some of the Southern gov
ernments against Communist unrest
Is an accomplished fact.
Close Fight Waged.
Latest evidence Of this campaign is
brought by recent cable news. A dis
patcn from Santiago, Chile, announces
lnat a closely allied fight against Com
munism and other Leftist agitation Is
being waged along the west coast OF
South America by the governments Of
Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador"
Examples of that fight are the recent
adoption OF emergency degrees in Peru.
the appearance of protesting delegations
OF workers federations and student
committees before the Bolivian Senate,
the strict punishment of Red leaders
Implicated in the latest disorders in
Ecuador. and the measures now before
the Chllean congress to declare all Com.
muniSts in Chile outlaws
In this connection, a most interesting
document, the full text of which has
Just been received in Washington, is a
proclamation issued by the President
OF Chile, Senor Juan Esteban Montero.
It is dated April z, 1882. and was caused
by the recent revolutionary astivitfes of
radical Chilean leaders which we're said
70 be working in conjunction with COM
munist elements
The proclamation is a frank and
strong denunciation Of professional
political agitators. And it might be
used to describe the position not only
OF President Montero but of other
Latin American executives.
Without committing myself to the
assertion that the fears of President
Montero are not somewhat exaggerated. .
and only to give a picture Of the atti-
tude ADOPTED by some of the Latin.
American Presidents to check radical
agitation, I quote from his statSment:
Recent events force me to inform
the country that the constitutional
order is threatened. Some of the very
individuals responsible for the economic
and moral status in which the Republic
nnos Itself, are conspiring to overthrow
the constitutional regime. They use.
as material for propaganda, the diff
culties of the economic situation.
and they exploit the pangs of misery
with fallacious promises which they
cultles OF the economic situation
In their eagerness to achieve their aims,
which are not patriotic ones, they do
not even heed the ruinous consequences
which may result from their endeavors.
Firmness Promised.
II can only defend with de-
termination WnaC the country intruSted
to my hands. I shall make this defense
with serene energy. The constitution
and the laws give me powers for the
maintenance of order: l shall exercise
them fully and with unhinching firm
ness. In doing my duty I am entitled
to demand that the others do theirs.
I trust in the loyalty and honor of the
armed forces. I rely on the strength
or national opinion. Finally, I call
upon all Chileans to defend with me
liberty, right and order"
After all, perhaps it is not to be
wondered that under such strict vigi--
lance, on the one hand, and the in,
difference Of the middle-classes, on the
other, Latin American Communists had
real holiday the first Of May. A
quieter, peaceful, and more restful
holiday than was expected
Copyright. 1922