Evening star., 1938-12-16
Sees Risk in Puerto
Ricon independence
Adherence to United States
Held Best Assurance
Of Sofety

Held Best Assurance
Of Sofety
To the Editor Of The Star:
In view of a recent sensational article
In an illustrated American magazine on
alleged conditions in Puerto Rico, the
following letter from Attorney Rafael
Ortiz-Pacheco to Chief Justice Emilio
del Toro of Puerto Rico, a delegate to
the Pan-American Congress at Lima,
may be of interest.
Ortiz-Pacheco was a member OF the
Nationalist party and was associated
with Pedro Albizu Campos, the terrorist
leader Of that party, who is now serving
term in Atlanta for conspiracy to over
throw the government Of the United
States In Puerto Rico. He evaded prose-
cution on the same charge by fleeing
from Puerto Rico. His letter to Chief
Justice del Toro, as published in the San
Juan Ell Mundo, reads in part:
my very distinguished friend and
teacher:
Probably you will not remember me
as pupil of yours II years ago in the
University of Puerto Rico.
1T is more probable that you remem-
Der me rather as one of the Nationalist
prosecuted in Puerto Rico, together with
Pedro AlbiEu Campos, by the United
States authorities for alleged conspiracy
to overthrow by force the United States
regime in the island, prosecution in
which could not be tried as I was
absent from the country.
During the nearly three years I have
been away from the country, have done
some travelling through America. I have
visited Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, santo
Domingo and Venezuela, all of which
countries are larger and richer in
natural resources than our own. I have
not Travelled as the propagandist of one
idea, with my mind closed against every
thing except that one idea. I have gone
simply on observation trips, with my
mind free of prejudice, for the sole pur-
pose OF testing the vitality of principle,
the advisability and the substance of a
dream. And 1t is the result of such test
that I have considered it my patriotic
duty to set forth in this letter.
Az ioiisci UcucVc Ill IIle vitality OF
my dream, my friend. 1t is not that I
have ceased to believe in our country's
right to be free, sovereign and independ-
ent. In regard to that right I admit no
discussion. But have taken account of
the reality in which we live.
And I do not believe that in such an
hour 1t is truly patriotic to work for the
creation of the Republic of Puerto Rico.
On the contrary, believe that 1t Is more
patriotic to work to bind Puerto Rico
closely to the United States, endeavor-
ing, of course, to have our relations based
on greater mutual respect and under.
standing.
1T is true that the economic, social
and political conditions of Puerto Rico
lack much of being ideal and of being
what we Puerto Ricans are entitled to
aspire to have them become; but no
longer believe that we can improve them
by our conversion into an independent
republic. On the contrary, rather be-
heVe that 1t is easier to promote their
improvement in full and loyal co-opera-
ton with the United States of America.
1T Is true that in this way we are sac
rif1cing beautiful dream, a dream that
lives in the hearts Of all worthy men;
but we do so on the altar of a reality
more propitious for the welfare of our
little native land. Pure idealism Is very
beautiful and very attractive, but to
enjoy it to the full we need, unfortu-
nately, to be endowed with an astral
body.
May my old friend pardon me for
having taken so much time with this
letter of mine, but it is because, you be-
ing the voice of Puerto Rico in the Pan
American Conference at Lima, I needed
to set forth to you my point of view.
your pupil and friend,
"RAFAEL ORTIZ PACHECO."
The magazine article which I have re-
ferred to was written by an American
who was last in Puerto Rico in 1929 It
gave a completely distorted account of
conditions here under the wise and pa
tient administration Of Gov. Blanton
Winship 1884 to date. Our economic
problems are serious, but no intelligent
Puerto Rican believes that independence
or terrorist agitation will solve them
The best evidence of this is that the Ma
tionalist party now numbers less than
1000 members in population of nearly
100000, and that former terrorists like
Ortiz-Pacheco admit that the best place
for Puerto Rico is under the Stars and
Stripes.
CANDIDO G. ARRECHE.
President of the Young Union -Repub-
licans, Santurce.
December 7,