Evening star., 1941-01-12

sphere defense plan. President Al
fredo Baldomir telegraphed pledge
of his adherence to hemisphere de-
fense views of President Roosevelt
in his Columbus Day speech at
Dayton, Ohio. A few days later,
during his visit to the United states
with other Latin American MILL
tarv leaders, Gen. Marcelino Ber-
galh. general of the Uruguayan
armies. said he believed this heml-
sphere could be protected against
invasion from abroad through just
such forms of hemisphere collabora-
ton as the recent pan-Amerlcan
conferences and the military good
will tours.
Pan-American bases.
Early in November 1t was re-
ported that military consultants
were in agreement on the establish
ment of American, rather than
| United States, bases and that plans
already were being prepared for a
large air base near the fashlonaole
Carrasco Beach, II miles from Mon
| tevideo. It also was reported that
Uruguay was planning immediate
establishment of a naval base on
the Atlantic coast near the mouth
of the Plate and at least one addl-
| tional air base.
The agreement contemplates re-
| tention of the bases under Uru-
guayan sovereignty, a point which
it became necessary for both Secre-
tary of State Hull and Uruguayan
officials to stress in view of criticism
not only in Uruguay but also in Ar
gentina and Chile. Chilean Defense
Minister Juvenal Hernandez had
said he was opposed to granting air
and naval bases to the United States
because the ceding of bases does
not imply cooperation but submis-
sion"
International Controversy.
Under terms of the agreement.
Uruguayan bases would be manned
by Uruguayans, probably assisted
BY technical experts from the United
States. United States engineers and
skilled Workmen also might be sent
to assist in constructing the bases.
Discussions are in progress on de-
tails of a plan by which this coun-
try may finance construction OF the
bases and supply airplanes, equip
ment, machinery and munitions on
long-term credit.
1t also is reported that Uruguay
has asked the United States for
three overage deStroyers. The
agreement contemplates the use of
Uruguayan bases by Argentina,
Brazil and other American nations
on the same terms as were offered
to the United States Such nations
would help defray the expense re-
sulting from their use of the bases,
Baldomir Defends Plan.
President Baldomir publicly de-
Tended Uruguay's right to discuss
and establish pan-American defense
bases, and the reaction against Spain
may have been of assistance to him
IN breaking a deadlock in the Uru-
guayan Senate which had been
blocking his defense program. Some
of the Senate tension also was eased
by an Argentine Foreign Office an
nouncement that the two countries
had agreed to examination of joint
interests in matters of defense. The
Uruguayan Minister to Spain also
acted to clear the atmosphere with
reply to Spanish critics, in which
he pointed out that between the
American countries there exists
solidarity of purpose and that
Spanish views were completely in
exact"
Senate opposition was further re-
duced by the action of the Cham
ber of Representatives on Novem-
ber 81 in voting its confidence IN
the international policy of the gov
ernment, with particular reference
to establishment of pan-American
bases.
The Chamber action, however,
failed to heal growing breach be-
tween President Baldomir and the
Nacionalista Herrerista party over
the question of bases. Or. Abal-
cazar Garzia replaced Toribio Olaso
as Minister of Public Instruction.
On December II three additional
Herrerista members of the cabinet
resigned.
Argentine Pact Signed.
The shake-up, however, did not
prevent signing of an agreement for
Joint defense of the River Plate
reached December II by Foreign
Minister Julio A. Roca of Argen-
tina and Alberto Guani of Uruguay.
President Baldomir declared that
South America must have additional
bases so that the Americas might
defend themselves against internal
acts inspired from abroad or at
tacks upon our shipping at sea-"
1t was announced that Uruguayan
plans for bases were not affected by
the discussions of DR.. Guani and
Senor Roca and that the question
of a trade treaty between the two
countries would be referred to
mixed commission. 1t was pointed
out that the difficulty Argentina is
encountering in keeping Uruguay
within the sphere of her economic
influence is parallel to that the
United States is facing In the ef-
fort to reach a working agreement
with Argentina.
U. S. Loans Helpful.
Recently announced United States
loans to Argentina and Uruguay,
totaling $117,500000, are expected
to be helpful in bringing about
more detailed agreements, not only
as to economic but also defense
problems.
Just before the close of the year
it was announced that the United
States and Uruguay have agreed to
raise their legations at Montevideo
and Washington to the status OF
embassies as a part of the conti-
mental solidarity plan, putting Uru-
quay in the same diplomatic rank
as Argentina and strengthening its
position in any future joint con-
versations regarding cooperation In
defense of the River Plate zone.
There is constant new evidence