Evening star., 1944-01-28
Three Cabinet Ministers
Quit Ramirez Reoime

BUENOS AIRES, Jan. % (P).-
Three cabinet ministers and three
lesser officials, all known for ex-
treme nationalistic views, have re-
signed because Of their opposition to
Argentina's diplomtic break with the
AXIS. 1t was learned today.
This development in the still
fluld situation came as President
Pedro Ramirez was sharply warn
ing Germany and Japan to beware
OF any acts OF reprisal against Ar
genuine nationals or property, advis-
ing opponents at home to maintain
silence for their own tranquility. -
banning all commerce with the Axis,
and suspending the newspaper Pam
pero. major Nazi mouthpiece here
Those reported to have resigned
were DR.. Gustavo Martinez Zuviria
minister of justice and public
instruction; Gen. Luis Cesar Per-
llnger, interior minister; Gen. Diego
Mason, minister of agriculture
Gen. Basilio Pertine, mayor OF
Buenos Aires, and Alberto Baldrich
and Leon Scasso, federal intervent-
ors IN the provinces of Tucuman and
Cordoba.
Had Opposed Break With Axis.
Martinez Zuviria and Perlineer
who were named to their posts ir
a cabinet shakeup last October, have
been steadfastly opposed to a break
with the Axis.
dispatches from neighboring
capitals at that time said thew
had replaced ministers who even
then were urging the diplomatic
rupture that came only this week.
| martinez Zuviria, who under
the pen name of Hugo Vast has
written a trilogy of violently
antl-Semitic books, is one of Ar
gentlnaS most widely known
authors. Early in November. a
week after Perlinger took office.
seven provincial interventors and
three territorial governors re-
signed In what was described as
a move to give Perlinger freedom
OF action. The interventors serve
as federal administrators. Along
with President Ramirez, Perliper
early this month signed the de-
cree setting up drastic new press
restrictions in Argentina.
Che cabinet crisis that brought
Martinez Zuviria, Perlinger and
Mason to office came during the
period that an order was pro-
mulgated suspending publication
OF Jewish newspapers in Argen-
tina. The ban provoked sharp
rebuke by President Roosevelt
and was quickly lifted.)
President Ramirez's warning to
the Axis against any reprisals and
to dissidents at home was voiced
late Yesterday at press conference
at which he also said 1t would be
necessary to adopt certain measures
to safeguard the security of the
country.
Commerce With Axis Stopped.
These measures, he said, when d.
rected against nationals of Axis
countries will not differ from those
applied to Argentines except when
the Germans and Japanese demon
strate that they lack UNDERSTANDING
OF what Ramirez called his govern
ment's generous proposals. and
proved unworthy of confidence.
cIhis statement appeared to
suggest that while the Ramirez
regime would attempt to stamp
out Axis espionage in Argentina
the campaign would not be en-
ployed to hound and harass
Germans and japanese who steer
clear of such activitieS.)
AS a followup to an order that all
Argentine merchant vessels must
remain in port for the present,
Ramirez said the government had
decreed that all commerce between
Argentina and Axis countries must
stop. He added that the question
OF controlling mail and telegraphic
communications was under study
The suspension of Pampero was
ordered after 1t published an edi-
torial yesterday declaring the dip
lomattc break was an act under
mining our sovereignty and places
the country in path contrary to
its traditions"
Heretofore, Pampero has en-
Enthusiastically endorsed the Rami-
rez government, although it OBJ
jected to the decree some weeks ago
dissolving all Nationalist organiza-
tions. It's closing ends a hectic
five-year existence during which II
blasted the democracies and car
ried many vitriolic anti-Jewish
statements.