Evening star., 1942-06-02
Tension in Arqentinu

The political tension in Argentina
which has been growing for the past
two years seems to be developing into
a major crisis. This tension, though
popularity associated in this country
with the question of foreign policy,
also involves domestic issues. Final
| ly, it Is rooted in that contrast be-
tween town and country which is one
| of the basic factors in Argentina's
political life.
The trouble dates from July, 1910,
when President Ortiz relinquiShed
his official functions on account of
Ill health. Ortiz, though elected by
a coalition composed largely of con-
ServativeS, was liberal-minded man
pledged to domestic reforms and op-
posed on principle to the Berlin
Rome Axis in the war which had
broken out the previous autumn. He
did not resign, and is still legally
President; but all executive func-
tionS were taken over by Vice Presi-
dent Ramon Castillo, with the title
OF Acting President
Castillo is a full-fledged conServa-
tive, typifying the class of wealthy
landowners who hold most of the
soil and dominate rural politics.
The landleSs poems and cowboys who
work on the big farms and vast
ranches usually vote as they are told.
This enables the conservatives al
ways to dominate the Senate, which,
like our own upper house, is elected
on territorial basis, each province
having two members, whereas the
great city of Buenos Aires has only
one.
The Chamber of Deputies, on the
other hand, is elected by popular
vote; so there the urban element is
fairly represented. That element,
however, is found mainly in BuenoS
Aires and its metropolitan district,
which together contain nearly 6,0OO,-
600 out of the nations 13,OOO,OOO
inhabitants. BuenoS Aires large
working class element tends to vote
Socialist, but outside the metropolis
the Socialist party hardly exists. In
both the cities and towns, the middle
classes mostly support the so-called
Radical party, which is liberal in
tone. Having a nationwide organi-
cation and following, it is the ira
dltional opponent of the conServa-
tlves, and in the previous Chamber
it had small plurality.
When the congressional elections
were held last March, the conServa-
tive coalition known as the Concor-
dancia resolved to capture the Cham
Der Of Deputies, and Acting President
Castillo stretched his executive pow
erS to the limit, especially by de-
creeing state of siege" upon which
neither candidates nor the press
could mention foreign policy, which
had become the burning issue be-
cause of Radical and Socialist op-
position to the governments 'iSola-
zionist" neutrality that hindered
Pan-American cooperation and in
directly favored the Axis. However.
this effort failed Radical election
losses were more than balanced by
Socialist gains in the metropolis.
The Socialist deputies hold the bal
ance of power in the new chamber.
and by voting with the Radicals can
block government bills, including the
vital matter of appropriations.
Angered by this prospect the gov
ernment at first tried to prevent
Congress from meeting, but was at
length forced by popular pressure to
call it as required by the constitu-
ton. However, Castillo invoked his
state of siege" to forbid the news
papers from publishing congressional
debates, thus gagging the opposition
at its source. Conservative spokes-
men have openly threatened either
to suspend Congress or rule by ex-
ecutive decree if the Chamber proves
recalcitrant. But the Radical-So-
cialiSt coalition in the Chamber
shows no signs of weakening. With
popular passions running high, the
crisis is assuming a potentially revo-
lutionary character. Argentina's
political outlook is thus stormy one.