The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-15
Latin America ChangesHeads
 In 4 Countries
By LAWRENCE S. HAAS limited Press Latin American EAfkS


 New York, Aug. IS. CUP)-The inauguration of Dr. Alfonso Lopez as President of Colombia last week marked the fourth change in the presidencies of Latin American re- publics during the past 10 months.
 Lopez, Liberal both as to party membership and doctrine, served as president for the 1934-38 term, and he campaigned this year on a pro-democratic platform. In his speeches he expressed full support for continental unity and defense cooperation, and he made a lengthy pre-inaugural visit to the United States where he viewed, at first hand, the growing industrial and military war program.
 Colombia is of vast importance in the Western Hemisphere defen- sive system. It lies closer to the Panama Canal than any South American country; 1t has long coastlines on both the Pacific and Caribbean; it is one of the worlds s great oil and coffee producing countries, and is a potential source of such vital raw materials as rub Der.
 Castillo Continues Neutral
 Colombia severed relations with the Axis powers shortly after Dec ', 1941, and at the Rio de Janeiro conference last January gave strong support to the move for a full continental break with Ger many, Italy and Japan. The elec- tion and inauguration of new head of state of definite pro-demo- cratic sympathies provides added support for the United Nations.
 The change in president in Argentina last June, brought about by the resignation of Dr. Roberto M. Ortiz shortly before his death, occasioned no alteration in the government policies of the River Plate republic.
 Vice. President Ramon s. Cas- tillo, who had been acting Presi- dent with full executive powers for two years, assumed the presidency in his own right, and continued the governments policy of prudent neutrality" There has been no sign that the administration con- templates departure from it's pol icy of maintenance of diplomatic relations with the Axis, despite the Rio de Janeiro resolution recom- mending a rupture with the Axis nations.
 Chile May Veer to Allies
 The Castillo administration has continued the nation wide state of siege, enacted by executive order late last year, and apparently is in firm control of the political situa- tion. Castillo, under provisions of the constitution, will serve the un- expired portion of the Ortiz term, due to end Feb. 20, 1944.
 Juan Antonio Rios was inaugur- ated President of Chile last April for a six-year term. The right wing leader of the Radical (ac- tually liberaD Party was chosen at a special election called follow ing the death of President Pedro Aguirre Cerda in November of last year.
 A brief provisional regime, un- der the presidency of Jeronimc Mendez was in office during the Rio de Janeiro conference, where the Chilean delegation supported Argentina in the question of a rupture with the Axis. Chile, thus far, has not severed relations with the countries warning against the United Nations, but there have been occasional indications from United Nations sources recently, leading to the belief that senti- ment in favor of such a break may be crystallizing in official Chilean quarters.
 Panama Supports U. s.
 The Republic of Panama had a change of presidents last October, when bloodless coup busted the allegedly pro-Nazi President Ar nulfo Arias and seated Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia in his place. De la Guardia's government dem- onstrated its pro-democratic sym pathies from the start, and de- clared war on the Axis.
 At recent election in the Do- minican Republic, Generalissimo Rafael L. Trujillo was chosen chief executive for a six-year term and he will be inaugurated later this month. Trujillo, who had served two previous terms as president, long has been the directing force in Dominican affairs His country also Is at war with the Axis, and it has given complete and un- stinted cooperation to the United Nations cause.
 General elections were to have been held in Uruguay last March but they were postponed following coup during which President AL fredo Baldomir dissolved Congress and seized full governmental pow CTS. At that time and subse- quently, Baldomir made it known that elections are tentatively planned for some time late this year.