Evening star., 1938-02-27
REARM|NG W|DENS
IN SOUTH AMERICA
U. S. Propaganda Campaign
Faces Upset Political
Conditions.
by CARLOS J. vIDELA.

OVslOtkvVIJos
BY CARLOS ]. vIDELA.
NEW YORK, Feb. as (N.A.N.A.)-
With the spectacular flight Of six
aerial fortresses" from Miami to
Buenos Aires. Argentina. the American
plan aimed at counteracting European
propaganda in South America had q
markedly successful beginning this
week as the planes headed an air
parade in honor Of the Inauguration
Of Argentinas new President, Roberto
M. Ortiz.
A few months before, on the occa-
sion Of the international air congress
at Lima. Peru, an American airplane
carrier and her brood Of fighting Navy
planes put on . magnificent show. on
. par with that of 4 crack Italian
squadron specially sent for goodwill
purposes. Still earlier. President
Roosevelt had paved the way for these
demonstrations by attending in person
the opening ofthe last Pan-American
Conference at Buenos Aires.
This groundwork already success
fully laid. the door Is now open for a
definite plan of American propaganda
in South America, on which Washing
ton oficials and private interests are
presently at work. and which includes
. considerable amount Of radio broad
casting.
If and when the whole plan Is put
into practice, 1t will have at the re-
ceiving end q South America that Is
rapidly arming, where political condi-
tions are anything but settled and
where European and Asiatic interests
are carrying on q high-pressure cam
paign Of commercial penetration. A
summary stock-taking Is therefore In
order at this time.
Arms Increase Rapidly.
Increases in the fighting forces Of
South American nations are spreading
throughout the continent. despite the
brotherly protestations SO recently
heard at Buenos Aires under the spell
Of Mr.. Roosevelt's presence. British
yards are turning out cruiser and de-
stroyer additions for Argentina's fleet.
This South American country has been
steadily buying military aircraft here,
to the amount Of millions Of dollars.
Italian and British yards have re-
Gently delivered Q number OF subma-
rines and two modern cruisers to the
Buenos Aires government. An Ameri-
can Arm has been engaged to build an
explosives plant there for the army.
Brazil has announced her intention
Of devoting considerable sums to re-
build her now obsolete navy. re-equip
her army and build strategic roads.
Chile. which Is In the grip Of economic
difiiculties, called for bids few days
ago for the construction Of two heavy
cruisers. said to be of 5000 tons and
armed with guns of 8 or inch caliber.
Venezuela is taking delivery Of two
625-ton gunboats from the Muggiano
yards of Spezia. Italy; this Is quite an
effort for q hitherto practically navy
less small country not overly supplied
with funds.
Bolivia. still groggy from the Chaco
War and under the dictatorship Of Col.
German Busch. totters under 4 1898
appropriation Of 06,796 900. bolivianos
(about $780, ,000) for the army, while
spending only q, 3,2s0.000 bolivianos on
public education and 100000 on
sanitation. Her neighbor and recent
rival. Paraguay. looks at these develop
ments with unconcealed distrust.
Political Changes Due.
Politically. this year will see changes
In the governments Of most South
American nations. Brazil became a
personal dictatorship. under Getulio
Vargas shortly before the turn Of the
year. The country Is now run by .
quadrumvirate headed by Vargas and
completed by Interior Secretary Fran
cisco Campos. who wrote the new con.
stitution and Is the theorist Of the
foursome: Gen. Aurelio Goes Monteiro
who furnishes the muscle" and Os-
waldo Aranha. . polished diplomat re-
Gently ut washington. who shapes the
country's foreign policies.
Argentina has Just turned over he1
government to Roberto M. Ortiz, for
the period ls38-l944. Under seno,
Ortis 1t Is probable that Argentine.
American relations will become still
more cordial.
Across the River Plate from Argen.
tina lies Uruguay, where President
Gabriel Terra carried out a power
grab in 1894, and where a campaign
will soon be under way for the elec-
ton OF a successor. scheduled for the
last Sunday in March. So far, the
field shows only three candidates. all
three followers Of DR.. Terra and backed
by the regime. although one. DR.. Pedro
Cossio, has had words with the ad.
ministration and could be considered
an oppositionist. The real opposition
has not shown any signs of life yet
The present government is a Centrist
force, although frankly -commu-
mist; the opposition Is markedly Left
ist.
Campaign on In Chile.
Over in Chile. on the west coast OF
South America, q presidential cam
paign is also under way Elections are
to be held in October. President Ar
turo Alessandri, the incumbent, is at
present facing serious economic prob
lens. Col. Carlos 1banex, the stormy
petrol Of Chilean politics. is back in
the country and has announced that
he may be considered 4 candidate.
The parties Of the Left are trying, 10
far unsucceasfully. to form = Popular
Front; the dissensions between Rad
icals and Socialists seem to preclude
the formation Of such . bloc. The
parties Of the Right seem to have more
probabilities Of consolidating, and their
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