Evening star., 1945-08-29
Recall Of Ambassador
Seen Empty Gesture

SSeH Empty 0eStuTe
Britain Not Following u. S. Lead
in Argentine, Writer Points Out
By David Laurence
Recall Of an Ambassador-as has
happened with respect to Argentina
has usually failed to accomplish the
purpose which the State Department
has sought to achieve.
In almost none of the instances in the
past has the method proved to be any,
thing but an empty gesture. 1t serves,
OF course, to make headlines at the mo-
ment about an intended rebuke to the
country in question but it also deprives
the United States of voice of import
ance IN that country and very often is
interpreted as a negative step-the
abandonment Of previous policy rather
than the Inauguration of an affirmative
or constructive effort to build good re-
lations.
Arnaldo Cortesi, who is the cores
pondent of the New York Times at
Buenos Aires, wires to his newspaper
about Mr.. Bradens recall:
The appointment of Ambassador
Spruille Braden as Assistant Secretary
of State has greatly saddened all demo-
cratic elements In Argentina who had
come to regard him as visible symbol
OF sympathy for their cause. -
In view of this situation, 1t seems
particularly desirable that Mr.. Braden
should not leave Buenos Aires immedi-
ately lest any one should think that he is
abandoning his post under fire."
Braden's Work Upheld.
The truth is Mr.. Braden is being pro-
NOTED to the Assistant Secretaryship Of
State and nobody in the State Depart
ment Is criticizing his work On the
contrary his Interpretation of American
policy has been specifically upheld But
the most important fact in the episode
is that Mr.. Braden is being recalled and
1t has been decided not to send any one
in his place until an election or revolu-
tion has changed the government Of
Argentina
Efforts to elicit from the State De-
partment here any information as to
when new Ambassador will be sent to
BuenoS Aires have resulted in noncom.
initial answers. This is because the de-
clsion has been made to recall the Am
bassador and send no one In his place
till change in government occurs,
The secondary stature of a charge
daffaires is not the same thing as the
presence of an outspoken Ambassador.
The United States has in effect decided
to withdraw its most effective way of
maintaining contact with the Argentine
people.
In the neighborlng country of Chile,
however, very good American Am
bassador. Claude Bowers is to be found.
He is liberal and has good knowledge
of the theological conflicts of the pres
ent day in Latin countries, having
served under President Roosevelt as
American Ambassador to Spain from
1888 to 1889, including the trying years
Of the Spanish civil war.
Mr.. Bowers is long Democrat,
He made the keynote speech at the
Democratic National Convention in 1928
SO he measures up on the partisan DO
utlcal side which has become all-im-
portant in the State Department now
>adays. There certainly could not be the
slightest objection to Mr. Bowers from
any political quarter and he happens TO
fit the diplomatic situation like a glove.
poIiciax E,;Jad Rafo,.
But the idea of sending Mr.. Bowers
or any one else to Argentina runs coun-
ter to the plan Of the State Department
TO turn the clock back and try over
again policies that have failed before
withdrawing an ambassador and engae-
ing in period of watchful waiting
while anti-American elements capitalize
on the policy of the United States.
The majority of the Argentine people
have been sympathetic with the cause
OF the Allies in this war. They are a
proud people, however, and will resent
any effort by the United States Gov
ernment to dictate to them as to the
changes they should make in either the
form or the personnel of their govern
ment.
1t is significant that Great Britain
has announced through London dis
patches that she can no longer follow
the lead of the United States in Ar
gentina. This is one of the worst blows
that has been struck at our diplomacy.
1t means that the British, who have
been held in line heretofore, co-ordi-
mating their efforts with ours, will make
a play now for the friendship and trade
of the Argentine, leaving it to the
American Government to patch up as
best it can in the future the i'll effects
of its curious alterations of so-called
diplomacy.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)