Evening star., 1942-06-23
Argentine President,
Ai|ing, Is Reported
Planning 10 Resign
Ortiz Sold to Have Made
Decision After Report
Of Eye Specialists
By tie Associated Press.


BUENOS AIRES. June 23.-
Argentina's ailing. inactive presi-
dent, Roberto Ortiz. supporter of
solidarity among democratic nations,
is planning to resign because of
partial blindness, leaving in charge
OF the government Acting President
Ramon Castillo, whose critics say he
is favorable to the Axis, the news
paper Critica said last night.
President Ortiz's decision was
made because his physicians con-
cluded that an operation for fail
ing eyesight which forced him to
retire temporarily almost two years
ago would be impossible. the news
paper said.
The president has been under
treatment since he turned over his
Office to Castillo in July. 1910. A
month ago DR.. Ramon Castroviejo
New York eye specialist, came to
Buenos Aires to examine the presi-
dent and consult with Argentine
physicians.
At that time Critica reported that
DR.. Castroviejo had undertaken the
trip at the personal request
of President Roosevelt. President
Ortiz's son Jorge had asked Mr..
Roosevelt to intervene in his fathers
case during a recent visit TO WASH
ington, the newspaper said then.
Spent Month With Ortiz.
DR.. Castroviejo spent more than
a month with the president and his
physicians. At the conclusion of his
examination he was reported to
have recommended that an opera
ton be performed.
President Ortiz let 1t be known
that he was considering the prob
lem with his own physicians and
that he would issue statement ex-
planning DR.. Castroviejo's medical
report. President Ortiz also is suf-
fering from diabetes.
Last week, Argentine physicians
were reported to have disagreed in
part with DR.. Castroviejo's recon-
mendation, some of them saying
surgical treatment was not neces-
sary and others maintaining that
if an operation were performed,
DR.. Castroviejo should do 1t him.
self.
In the midst OF the controversy,
DR.. Castroviejo left Buenos Aires
suddenly and started for Miami.
Took Office in 1888.
President Ortiz, elected to a six
year term, took ONCE February 2,
1898. Under the Argentine consti-
tuition. Castillo would take over the
remainder of President Ortiz term
Castillo's leading Radical LIB
eraD opponent, Deputy Raul Da-
monte Taborda, has introduced a
resolution in the House for imme-
diate rupture of relations with Ger
many, Italy and Japan.
The government has not made
known its official attitude on the ex-
tension of the German submarine
blockade to cover the entire Atlantic
Coast of the United States.
The widened zone. due to be-
come effective June 26, would put
Argentine ships in the same dan
ger as those of other American ma
tions. A government spokesman
last week said it would be CON
trary to the principles of contin-
entail solidarity" for Argentina,
even though continuing diplo-
matte relations with the Axis, to
agree to special exceptions for its
vessels
New Protest Expected.
The sinking of the freighter Rio
Tercero Sunday of New York-the
third Argentine casualty since the
war started-will undoubtedly draw
another protest from the govern
ment, although it is not yet known
wheher she was torpedoed or struck
a mine.
In reply to an earlier protest,
Germany last week expressed pro
found regret" for submarine at
tack on the tanker Victoria of Capt
Hatteras last April. but said her
identity had been mistaken. The
Argentine liner Uruguay was tor
pedoed and sunk of the Spanish
coast in 1910.