Evening star., 1933-01-01

4 n 4
VI mails of Latin American politics.
i The political horizon in most
of the Southern republics was
so uncertain, when the year began.
that the writer felt justified in stating
in these columns:
IF the past two years have been
prodigal in political and economic up
sets in Latin America, nothing very
different may be expected from what
1882 has in store for the countries on
the other side Of the Rio Grande. As
the new year begins, the major troubles
appear, of course. to be of an economic
nature But politics, during the next
IL months, will play a most important
role on the Latin American stage. Eco
nomic problems will not make all the
front-page news"
After enumerating some OF the para
mount economic issues which confront
ed the majority of the Latin republics,
the political events officially scheduled
to take place during the year were list
ed as follows:
-Four presidential elections; two
presidential inaugurations; negotiations
for the solution of two of the most diff
flcult and long-standing boundary con-
troversies, and consolidation of three
recently inaugurated conservative re-
gimes."
ITO this list" I added at the time,
many unexpected additions may have
to be made before the year is over"
Unexpected Additions.
Let us see what these unexpected ad-
ditions have been: Six civil or internal
wars; two more, unscheduled, presiden-
tial elections: two international armed
conflicts; and series of minor govern
ment upsets, which were less important
because of their short duration.
The four scheduled presidential cleo
tons had been announced in Costa
Rica, Panama, Honduras and Nicara-
qua. They were all held in a peaceful,
orderly manner, but two of them were
followed later by armed rebellions.
Only in Panama and Nicaragua the
Will OF the majority was democratically
accepted as expressed at the polls AS
result Of the Paaaman election, DIR.
Harmodio Arias, former Minister to
Washington, was officially inaugurated
President last August. And in Nicara-
qua, DR.. Juan B. Sacasa, also a former
member of the Washington diplomatic
corps, is to receive today the reins of
government in accordance with the
November election in that country
But IN Costa Rica and Honduras the
aftermath Of the presidential elections
was far more disturbing In Costa
Rica, the defeated candidate, Senior
Manuel Castro Quesada, took UP arms
as soon as the outcome of the election
had been announced, and for several
days threatened the stability of the
/ legal authorities. With little difficulty,
however, his poorly organized scheme
was crushed by the government, which
counted upon the unanimous support
OF public opinion. This had naturally
been aroused by the attempt to in
troduce old-fashioned personal ambi-
tions in the politics of a country which
mad distinguished itself for its orderly
democratic progress in the last few dec
AIDES.
The revolt having been suppressed,
Don Ricardo Jimenez son of a former
President, grandson of another, and
himself former Chief Executive, was
inaugurated President of Costa Rica
last May.
In Honduras, where an uprising also
followed the presidential election last
November, the case was made even
more complex by the. fact that the de-
| feated candidate condemned the out
break, accepted publicly the result of
the election and pledged his support to
the regime which will be inaugurated
next February. Thus the fairness of
the election was established, and the
rebels left without a justifiable excuse
70 overthrow the existing authorities.
beSloes, the election having resulted in
the victory OF the opposition party, and
the change of government not vet hav-
ing taken place, the rebels found them
selves fighting against the leaders of
their own party. who are still in charge
OF the government.
Honduran Personalistic Coup.
Thus, the Honduran revolt. which at
the time Of this writing has not vet
Deen entirely suppressed, acquires all
the characteristics of the old-fashioned
personalistic coup, which has in the
past SO much hindered the Develop
ment OF democratic institutions in that
part OF the world. Fortunately, in the
past lew years, this type of selfish re-
neillon has met with little success In
Latin America. Even during the pres
ent wave OF political and economic un-
rest, revolutionary leaders have had TO
invoke something else than the self-ad-
vancement Of their own political for
tunes
OF the two presidential inaugurations
expected in 1882, in accordance with
elections held the year before, only one
actually look place. Gen. Augustin p.
Justo, leader of the CONSERVATIVES sec
tors, was inaugurated President of
Argentina amidst orderly ceremonies
Two weeks ago, however. a revolution
ary plot OF considerable proportions
charged to radical agitators, was dis
covered by the Buenos Aires police. At
once, a state of seige (modified martial
law was authorized by Congress. and
consequently. not even Argentina. the
largest Spanish American republic, NAV
De said to have enjoyed absolute nor
malcy In the year just ended.
The other Inauguration on the pro-
gram, that OF President-elect Bonifay.
OF Ecuador. developed into a. last
minute scratch" The election of Senior
Bonifaz was annuled on the ground
that his Ecuadorean nationaIitv was