Evening star., 1944-01-26
Argentina 5 Break
with Axis Follows
Allied Pressure
By BLAIR BOLLES.

Argentine governments decision to
break of relations with the Axis and
thus fulfill Its pledge made at the
Rio de Janeiro Conference In 1912.
Notes couched in diplomatic but
unmistakable language, it was said,
have been delivered in recent days
to the regime in Buenos Aires which
made the Argentine government
wonder whether Britain and the
United States would refrain from
applying economic sanctions against
the country.
The move was viewed also rs a re-
sponse by President Pedro Ramirez
and his principal adviser, Col. Juan
Peron, to powerful popular desire in
Argentina to have the government
sever its close working relation with
the Axis.
The action was not considered an
unadulterated victory for the United
States, because 1t tends to improve
President Ramirez's chances of con-
tinuing in ONCE. At the judicious
moment, he Is lining himself up on
the side of the obvious victors In
the war.
Next Step in Doubt.
Argentina's severance Of its Axis
relations threw into doubt the next
step the American Government
might take to implement its nom
recognition policy on Bolivia. The
State Department had said 1t was
withholding recognition because of
Outside" influences In the revolu-
ton of December 20. The outside"
influence were Argentina.
The State Department had no
comment to make today on the
Argentine move. There appeared to
be disposition to wait and see"
to determine how the revised Ar
gentine policy developed.
Expectation was voiced in some
circles that Argentina again would
seek lease-lend assistance from the
United States. The question would
precipitate controversy within the
American government, it is said, be-
cause Of divisions on whether to be
practical" or to follow a course
that would be guided by a wish not
to help Ramirez grow too strong.
Brazil is considered a likely factor
in any consideration of a lease
lend application because that coun-
try has opposed the growth of Ar
gentine influence around South
America. Secretary Hull energet-
ically rejected an Argentine request
for lease-lend help last summer.
Bold Diplomatic Move.
The application of British -Ameri-
can pressure on the Ramirez gov
eminent was considered in some
quarters bold diplomatic move, in
view OF the dependence of Britain
on Argentine meat.
Ambassador Escobar, appointed
Argentine envoy to the United
States last October. is now ex-
pected to begin his journey to WASH
ington.
Argentina's severance Of relations
made the Americas a solid anti-Axi
bloc. Fifteen of the Latin American
countries have declared war. ENRIQUE
Penaranda, ousted President OF Bo-
livia, declared war. but doubt was
expressed today whether 1t was a
constitutional action. Bolivia and
all the countries have broken rela-
tions with one or more Of the Axis
countries
The Argentine action closes a last
formal avenue for spying by the
Axis in this hemisphere, through
the Axis embassies in Buenos Aires.
Did Not Reverse Stand.
In the fall of 1912, Sumner
Welles, then Undersecretary of
State. made a speech in Boston
charging that Axis spies were op-
Grating in Argentina and Chile and
not long afterward Chile broke
with the Axis.
Argentina alone maintained re-
lations. Then, last June, President
Ramon Castillo. who had formu-
lated the Argentine policy of "pru-
dent neutrality" was ousted by a
quick revolution which brought
Ramirez and a number of army
OnCerS 10 power.
There was general expectation
at that time that Ramirez would
reverse Castillo's stand and join the
other American republics in sever
ing all ties with the Nazis.
Brazil lost no time in recognizing
Ramirez, and the rest OF the coun-
tires followed suit.
Argentina did not veer one way
or the other from her Internal tional
position, however, and the next i'm
portant incident in her Pan-Amer-
ican relations resulted In a stern
rebuke from Secretary Hull, who
declared that Argentina had failed
to fulfill the terms of the Rio de
Janeiro pledge.
Suspended Policeman
Placed on Trial