Evening star., 1942-01-11

ENRIQUE DE RUIZ-GUINAZU,
Argentina's Foreign Minister, toho
is reported to be planning to OPP
pose Argentina's complete CO.
operation in hemisphere 1Dar
plans. Harris E,Ding Photo.
OF the committee in the Argentine which
has done brilliant job Of digging up
Axis spies and propagandists. Taborda
and other members Of the Congress paid
an official visit to Washington last Mo-
vember.
At the Rio conference Foreign Minis
ter Guinazu naturally will try to win as
much support among the other delegates
ences in the past Argentina has drawn
back from full collaboration. Geograph-
ically and culturally the country has
been more independent than any of the
other South American nations. The
British tie has been strong and there
has been deep resentment of the Amer
ican ban on Argentine beef. Guinazu will
work this independent, separatist line for
all it is worth. He declared publicly last
week in an interview in La Nacion that
he would oppose any move toward pro-
belligerency" at Rio.
Failing to win support for a stand in
open opposition to wartime collaboration,
his next move is expected to be for
weak compromise which would not only
damage American prestige but might
present real obstacles to the war effort
of the Americas. It is here, however
that Senor Guinazu may find himself
out-maneuvered. Argentina has never
wanted to stand alone in opposing COL
laboration. It Is just possible that this
time the Argentine Foreign Minister may
find himself an opposition of one And
that might have very serious repercus-
sions back in the Argentine.
Central American Unity.
Leaving out Argentina, the prospects
for a far-reaching program of hemi-
sphere cooperation on both the military
and economic side are excellent. With
several South American countries nego-
tiations are now going forward for air
bases to be constructed by the United
States and used by the air forces OF the
two nations While these are naturally
secret negotiations and will not be
brought into the discussion at Rio, the
conference is expected to further this
program.
The five Central American republics,
Panama and the three Caribbean coun-
tries-Cuba, Dominican Republic and
Haiti-have all declared war on the Axis.
Mexico Colombia and Venezuela have
severed relations and have declared their
solidarity with this country
Brazil is likely to take the leadership
for active collaboration. The Brazilians
and the Argentinians have been on op-
posite sides of almost every question, and
this time the Argentinians are certain to
imply that Brazil's stand grows out of
her nearness to Africa and her depend
ence for protection on the United States.
Welles will work closely with his old
friend, Foreign Minister Oswaldo Aran-
ha, host to the conference and former
Brazilian Ambassador to Washington.
Aranha, who has high voltage Of Latin
charm, is certain to be one of the prin-
cipal personalities at the conference.
Another foreign minister likely to play
an important part is Ezekial Padilla Of
Mexico, who is as handsome and as DASH
ing as Aranha. Padilla was a champion OF
collaboration with this country when
that point Of view was decidedly unpopu-
lar with most Mexicans, who looked with
suspicion on the Colossus Of the North"
Close to Portes Gil, Padilla is man-of
wealth. He has served one term in the
Senate. His English Is fluent and full OF
Latin gallantries that make his speeches
in English read Ike translations from
the Spanish.
Influential with the delegates Of the
smaller countries will be DR.. Luis An
'''''' q r 7 ''''' '' international