Evening star., 1942-02-23
FIore-up in Uruguay


The virtual coup detat executed by
President Alfredo Baldomir of Uru-
quay comes as a disturbing revelation
of political instability in a country
which has been counted on as one
of the pillars Of Pan-American soli-
darity. Nevertheless, it would be
unwise to interpret this political
crisis solely in terms of the world
situation. Like other Latin Ameri-
can countries, Uruguayan politics
are stormy and highly personal.
Domestic issues having no logical
connection with foreign affairs play
an important part in the course of
events. Unless we understand the
relation of local to external policies,
the situation cannot be properly
evaluated.
Geographically, Uruguay is one Of
the smaller nations of South Amer
lea, especially when contrasted with
its giant neighbors, Brazil and Ar
gentina. Nevertheless, Uruguay, with
an area slightly larger than the New
England States and with a popula-
tion somewhat over 100000, has a
diplomatic and strategic Importance
far exceeding its mere size. A pas
toral land devoted chiefly to stock
raising, Uruguayan politics are de-
termined by the balance between
minority of Conservative landed
proprietors owning extensive cattle
ranches and a Liberal-Radical ma
jority embracing both the rural and.
urban masses, the latter being found
in Montevideo, the port city which is
Uruguays capital and metropolis.
Though the population is basically of
Spanish origin, there is consider
able Italian immigrant infusion, to-
gether with a smaller but influential
German element. These, together
with the recent Spanish immigrants,
tend to align themselves with the
native Conservatives. But that does
not make the latter automatically
'rro-ATis." The native lineup de-
ponds largely on political and per-
sonal antagonisms with deep historic
roots.
After a period of economic and
political turbulence during the last
World War, new constitution was
adopted in 1919, wherein elaborate
precautions were taken to prevent the
conversion of the presidency into a
dictatorship, the executive power be-
ing divided between the President
and a National Administrative Coun-
Gil on which the political opposition
was assured proportional representa-
tion. But this constitutional Setup
proved too cumbersome during the
economic crisis of the early 1930s,
which afflicted an exporting country
like Uruguay with especial severity.
Accordingly, the President made a
coup d'etat and eventually engi-
neered new constitution. Needing
to consolidate his position, he as
sured the Conservative party one
half the seats in the Senate and one
third the membership in his cabinet,
though the lower house in Congress
continued to be elected according to
the popular vote.
It was this obviously artificial Setup
which the current President, Alfredo
Baldomir, inherited when he took
Office in 1888. He had been elected
by the Liberal Radical majority, but
the Conservative minority was head
ed by strenuous personality named
Herrera, who so dominated his party
that his supporters are usually
termed Herreristas. A strong per-
sonal antagonism seems to have
existed from the first between
Herrera and President Baldomir,
which accounts in part for the strong
opposition of the Conservatives to all
the Presidents policies, foreign and
domestic. Last year, Baldomir en-
ragged the opposition by getting rid
of their cabinet members. But he
could not similarly recast the Senate
without openly violating the consti-
tuition. When the Conservative Sen
ators, by trick vote, passed cenSure
upon his foreign policies few days
ago, the President responded by his
admittedly unconstitutional action
dissolving Congress, adjourning the
elections scheduled for next month
and proposing the revision of con-
stitution which he declared to have
become unworkable. This Is the po-
litical background against which
Uruguay's current crisis should be
considered.