Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Brituin Rebukes Aroentinu

Britain Rebukes Argentina
The British government has
aligned itself solidly with the United
States in its open disapproval of
Argentina's policy of neutrality in
the World War. 1t has done this
through statement issued by the
London Foreign Office deploring
Argentina's continuance of diplo-
matte relations with the Axis powers,
stigmatized as "the enemies Of HUI
mainly"
The immediate reason for this
sharp rebuke was the publication in
an Argentine official organ OF press
material from London phrased in
such a way as to suggest that the
British government was in sympathy
or actual agreement with the neutral
policy maintained by the Castillo
administration. Expressing its "as-
constituent" at such misinterpreta-
ton, the foreign Office reveals that
the British government "has been at
pains to leave the Argentine govern
ment in no doubt" as to London's
views. This implies that, for some
time past, British diplomacy has
been quietly reinforcing our State
Departments efforts to get the Cas-
tillo regime to mend its ways and
fall in line with all the other Latin
American republics, save Chile, who
have broken relations with the Axis
enemies of the United Nations.
Back of this diplomatic flare-up
stands an attempt by the Castillo
regime to capitalize on the tradi-
tionally close economic relations be-
tween Britain and Argentina. That
country's phenomenal development
has been largely due to British capt.
tai invested in its bonds, agriculture
and public utilities, while Britain
has long been Argentina's best Gus
toner for its great meat-packing in
dustry. In return, Argentina has
been an important outlet for Brit
ish manufactures. This valued for
eign market has been maintained by
British industry against sharp Amer
lean competition, and it is no secret
that the rivalry between the two in
Argentina has been intense. Anxious
to maintain their hold during diff
ficlht period, it is not strange that
resident Britons have written home
in ways tending to excuse or smooth
over what was being done at Buenos
Aires. Some of this material has
been published in the British press,
especially in trade journals. And
that material, in turn, has been
eagerly republished, with editorial
touches, in Argentina. 1t has also
been avidly seized upon by Axis prop
uganda, both in Europe and In Ar
gentina, in persistent efforts to drive
a wedge of misunderstanding be-
tween Britain and the United States.
The British government now cracks
down on this whole sorry business,
exposing it with emphatic clarity, so
that henceforth no one can be in any
doubt as to where Britain stands and
what it thinks Of the Castillo foreign
policy. Washington has expressed
it's qualification and full accord with
London's attitude The entire cpl
sode thus re-emphasizes the solidar-
ity of the English-speaking nations
and the harmony Of their foreign
policies in South America as in the
rest of the world.
Whatever the ultimate effects may
be, the immediate result Of the for
eign Offices statement has been an
angry retort from Argentina. Pub
LEGATION of the text or editorial COM
ment thereon was promptly forbid
den the Argentine press. Shortly
afterward, Foreign Minister Ruiz
Guinazu expressed "amazement"
that Britain should have criticized
the policy of sovereign state in
manner hardly compatible with
friendly relations. This stiff atti-
tude might have been expected. But
the weight of British influence,
added to that of the United States,
can hardly fail to render more diff
cult the path Of the Castillo regime,
already opposed In it's foreign policy
by large sections of Argentine public
opinion. The last word has not yet
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