Evening star., 1941-09-28
American Relations
With Argentina
Best in History
U. S. Position Seen Not
Preiudieed by Disputes
In Lond of the Guuchos
BY BLAIR BOLLES.


While Argentina rumbles with in
ternal dissension. relations between
this country and the land of the
Gauchos are the best they have been
in history. That is the opinion of
an authority capable from expert
ence and knowledge of seeing into
the heart of events in Argentina.
Whether Ramon Castillo, acting
president, remains the chief ex-
ecutive in Argentina or gives way
to one of his rivals in the opposite
party, the administration here is
said to be confident of two things
of great importance to President
Roosevelt at time when he is de-
veloping his shoot sight policy
with regard to the war in Europe:
l. Whoever and whatever party is
in power in Argentina, that South
American republic will work in close
friendship with the United States.
2. NaZi influence in Argentina is
at minimum.
Charges Dismissed Here.
Although opposing parties in Ar
gentlna have accused their rivals of
having pro-German leanings, these
charges are dismissed here as having
little more meaning than Democratic
charges in 1910 that Wendell Willkie
was running for the presidency on
the pro-Axis ticket or than anti
Roosevelt complaints that the Presi-
dent is totalitarian at heart.
The party row in Argentina is be-
tween the Conservatives, who hold
the presidency in the person of
Ramon Castillo, and the Radicals,
Who almost dominate the legislature
sNd whose strongest spokesman at
,-"2Sent is Deputy Raul Damonte
-3oorGa, chairman of the congress
. onal Committee Investigating Anti
!. entine Activities.
Damonte Taborda and the Radi-
Gals have used the investigation and
The evidence it has turned up of a
Nazl plot in their country to in
Jure the political position of Castillo.
who formally is vice president but
NllO Is dHllnS president.
Damonte Taborda has protested
publicly that all but three of Cas-
tlIlos ministers are pro-German
and that the acting president inter-
terred with the conduct of his in
vestigation.
On the other hand, it is known
here that Castillo quietly was max
ing an investigation into Nazi plots
and was on the trail of the same
information which came to the
congressional committee.
Castillo has considered that the
committee, III making demands on
-NsZl representatives in Argentina
tor an improvement in their be-
havlor. has encroached on the for
eign policy domain of the presi-
dency.
Fight Has Long History.
The fight between Radicals and
Conservatives, between congress and
chief executive has a long history.
Until 1880 the Radicals were
dominant in the country, but a
coup in that year brought the Con-
servatives in the presidency and
there they have remained since.
The present foundation of the
Radicals anger with Castillo is the
conduct of the elections in the
states of Santa Fe and Mendoza
last autumn. The Radicals felt
that the conservatives, by their
control of the elections, diminished
the Radical vote.
The Radicals have been demand
Ing new elections in Santa Fe and
Mendoza under federal supervision
TIA. vould insure a vote for all.
/ 'Cc2.-2a las what is known as a
'-----c- i Democracy" under which
/ 4" ,.crsonS are denied the ballot
prjAcsc. The Radicals now dis
approve of Directed Democracy.
When the Conservatives in the
executive palace resisted the Radi- |
cal demand for new elections, the
Radicals set themselves up as an
opposition bloc to major administra-
ton requests.
This attitude explains the defeat |
IN the congress of the resolution
providing for Argentina acceptance
Of the sl25,000000 loan from the
United States arranged last winter
by the Prebitsch Mission. The reso-
luton was beaten, SO to IS.
Not Blow at u. S.
This action officially was inter-
prcted not as blow at the United
States but as part Of the domestic
Argentine Tow.
The commerce to the United
States from Argentina has increased
so greatly anyway in recent months
that the loan was not needed to &C.