The Wilmington morning star., 1945-04-02
More About Argentina

The action Of the military government OF
Argentina in declaring war on Germany and
Japan appears to have everybody guessing
except the heads of the governments which
will welcome that nation back into fellowship
and accord it a place at the San Francisco
security conference later this month.
1t is pointed out soundly enough on prece-
dent, that the present trend among Allied
nations is to recognize doubtful regimes, as
in the case of Russia's recognition OF the Ba-
doglio government in Italy, and leave to the
future the task Of Strengthening them out in
conformity with plans for new world. In the
same pattern is the Yalta decision on Poland.
Nevertheless it is obvious that the clique Of
military officers in control at Buenos Aires
has been aid is IAN inplacable theological
opponent Of democracy both in Argentina and
in the world at LARGE as one keen observer
puts it.
Perhaps there is no better evidence of the
attitude Of many Argentinians toward the pres
ent regime than is expressed in a telegram
addressed to the president of the recent Inter-
American Conference at Mexico City. That the
writer's are political outcasts who have found
refuge in Montevideo, seems to add strength
to their document rather than weaken it. The
message was written on February 26, and says:
1--WE who sign this telegram, Argentineans
in Montevdeo exiled for political reasons, in
ratification of the document given to the press
yesterday, feel it duty to approach this Hon
orable Assembly to bring forward formally a
fact which it may interest all to know. For
reasons which are world knowledge, the Ar
gentine Government has not been represented
at the 1nter-American Conference on Problems
Of War and Peace, in Mexico, but this circum-
stance does not necessarily mean that the
people Of Argentina should be considered as
excluded from the American community or as
indifferent to the vital questions which are
to be discussed at the Conference
Elm spite of all that has happened these last
years to interrupt normal relations between
some peoples of the Americas, the great ma
jority of Argentineans feel and know that a
close sense of solidarity and cooperation is
absolutely indispensable to assure the peace
and the future of the American continent
Never more than now in the thoughts OF Ar
gentineans have those forces been present with
which San Martin and Bolivar strove to bring
liberty and to establish friendly understand
ing between the American nations. If doubt
has been cast upon these feelings, or, out
side of Argentina, their existence has been
denied, it is because the opinion Of Argentin-
cans could not be expressed these last years
nor was it possible to speak freely because OF
the state of siege which has already lasted
more then four years
"Under the military regime, all political
parties have been dissolved. Labor unions
have been placed under official control Liberty
of the press has been completely annulled,
and the large dailies have been compelled to
conform to the regimes propaganda. Every
expression Of public opinion has been proscrlb-
ed. The schools, colleges, and universities
have been submitted to the teaching OF an
exclusive and bellicose nationalism. 1nstruc-
ton in Roman Catholicism has been made
compulsory in the schools. Sluice gates have
been opened to a sentiment of xenophobia
which has vented itself chiefly against English,
. North Americans. and Jews.
j THE Argentine people understand that the
defense Of the American continent against the