The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-01-28
AXIS STRIVES
. TO RETAIN HOLD
IN ARGENTINA

,Buenos Aires, Jan. 2s-(UP) Axis
diplomacy Is preparing to concern
trate all It's force In Argentina for
q final stand on the Western Henri
sphere and British and American
diplomats are cooperating to fore
stall 1t, according to reliable sources.
In November the u. 8. State De-
partment presented the Argentine
government with three memoranda,
which led to the arrest Of 3B alleged
Nad spies and the indictment Of six.
Moreover, two members Of the Ger
man embassy here had been linked
to the ring and Foreign Minister
Enrique Ruiz Guinazua asked the
German government to waive the
diplomatic innrnunities Of Capt. Dit
tricii NiehufiT, the German naval
attache. In order to permit him to
stand possible trial on espionage
charges.
If Germany refuses to waive ME-
buhr's diplomatic inmunities, the
attache may be declared persona
non. grata," but his departure will
not necessarily cripple NaM espion-.
age here. In this connection, poll
teal circles pointed out that Col.
Friedrich Wolf, until recently Ger
man military attache In Santiago,
Chile, and formerly a member Of q
German military mission to Argen-
tina, Is ready to take over Niebuhr's
post. Sth
Come From Chile
Also, other Germans formerly OPP
Grating in Chile have already come
to xBuenos Aires. The most motor
ious Of these Is Willie Pochhammer,
Who now is an officer IN the Ger
man embassy here. ,ay
The success which the German
embassy has had thus far in riding
out the storm created by recent ar
rests, indicates that Argentina re-
mains q secure haven for Axis dip
lornatic missions.
!. The stiff fight which Axis diplo-
mats are putting up to preserve
their right to use radio code mes
sages indicates that they are des-
perately eager to keep open this one
means Of communication between
the western hemisphere and the
Axis capitals. Although the govern
ment rejected the Axis protest
against limitation Of code messages
to 100 words daily for each diplo-
matte mission, Is Is believed that
the Axis protest, will prevent fur
ther restriction Of radio code.
Another aid to Axis espionage here
is the presence Of at least 100000
pro-NaM German residents to draw
from the formation of new spy
rings. As long as Germany MAIN
tains its diplomatic mission in
BuenoS Aires, well-trained leader
ship for espionage will never be
lacking.
This situation Is largely the reason
for the increased British United
States diplomatic cooperation ana
stricter coordination in the eco
Yonnic Aeld.'
British and United States policy
In Argentina has not always fol-
lowed parallel lines In the past, po-
litical quarters point out. The vast
amount Of British capital invest
ment here and the United King
don's reliance upon Argentina for
the bulk Of its meat supply has
caused the British to work less act.
lively than the Americans for an
Argentine rupture with the Axis.
A new Arm British policy, how
ever, was manifested late last month
when British Foreign Once state
nent "deplored'' Argentina's MAIN
tenance Of diplomatic relations
with the enemies Of humanity"
Also, political sources report that
the British government expressed its
dissatisfaction on the 100-word daily
quota Of code messages still allowed
the Axis diplomats.
Sir David Victor Kelly, new Brit
isl1 ambassador, was suddenly sum-
nlored to London in December,
probably to explain why Axis COM
ifunicatious were not totally cut
Of,
Z Meanwhile, local British and
American businessmen are taking
steps to bridge old ill-feelings car
ried over from the time when they
were fierce competitors for the Ar
gentine market. Disappearance Of
the old American complaint that
the British were too much concerned
with maintaining business as us
ual'' in Argentina has also contrib
uted to Improvement Of relations.
The Tunisian dervish swallows
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