Evening star., 1945-10-13
u. S. Feared Involved
In Argentine Revolt
Writer Warns Officials Against
Taking Credit for Shakeup
BY Dapid Laurence

By David Laurence
Argentina is boiling with revolutions
ary sentiment and a complete trans
formation Of the government there ap-
pears In sight. But it would be grave
mistake for any one in the United
States Government to attempt to claim
credit or responsibility for the change.
: Spruille Braden, now up for con-
firmation by the Senate as Assistant
Secretary of State, was outspoken
while in Buenos Aires. His speeches
were sensational. They were unprece-
dented. They were, of course, direct
interference in the internal affairs Of
Argentina, but they were justified here
on the ground that the government was
Fascist and hence anything could be
said or done which aimed to remove
fascism from the country.
This is a doctrine of the two-edged-
sword variety. Russia, for instance, Is
adamant that the American people
have no right to interfere with her in
ternal affairs and that she is entitled
to run totalitarian government and
a communistic regime If she so desires.
The off1cial position of the American
Government is that communism is Of
no concern to us.
Precedent Created.
But in the Argentine situation the
precedent is being created that the
United States has right not only to
denounce fascism in that country, but
to hint broadly to the people that they
better get rid of their Fascist-minded
leaders.
This position Is a delicate one for
the United States Government to pur-
sue, because in other Latin-American
countries there are virtual relationships
and If the Washington Government
starts to censor the various govern
ments of Latin-American countries,
anti-Americanism will thrive.
Yet the time has come for the govern
ments of the world to adopt the policy
that the internal administration of a
country can constitute a danger to
world peace. Clearly if the nations of
Europe and this hemisphere had early
enough seen the dangerous course being
adopted by Germany with her Nazi
rulers, 1t may be that Intervention
would have come sooner.
Today all the Allied governments
which participated in the war are
openly claiming the right not only to
root out fascism, but to say what kind
of governments shall be established in
place of the outgoing regimes. The
London Conference of representatives
composition of cabinets and which po-
litical parties or groups shall partici-
pate in the future governments of the
liberated countries.
The theory, of course, is that unless
freedom of speech and of the press and
freedom of religion are granted, the
totalitarian governments will be able
to control thought and action and ulti-
mately persuade an otherwise peaceful
people to arm for war. Such result Is
inevitable where totalitarianism prevails
because 1t is the precursor of war with
other powers.
See Soviet Parallel.
When, however, will those who have
been denouncing the Argentine group
of totalitarians become consistent and
speak out as openly against the Soviet
Unions disregard Of freedom of speech
and freedom Of the press and to soma
extent freedom of religious worship?
Supposing an American Ambassador
in Moscow attempted to make the same
kind Of speech that Spruile Braden
made in Buenos Aires? Many Senators
are wondering whether they should
vote to confirm Mr.. Braden. What they
are really puzzled about is the tendency
Of Mr.. Braden and the State Depart
ment to adopt policies without consult
ing the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee. In this the Senators are right
because the State Department not only
has been unduly secretive toward the
Congress but it has acted without con-
sulting the other nations of Latin
America, too.
II delay in confirming Mr.. Bradens
appointment results in an understand
ing that hereafter the State Depart
ment will lose some of its unilateraI
habits, this will have been a construc-
tive step. There are those who regard
the matter of consulting the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee rather
nippantly but one wonders whether il
the State Department had consulted
that committee more in 1910 and 194l
the crisis with Japan would have de-
veloped as 1t did and whether our Army
and Navy would have been deprived by
Congress of the armament needed to
ward of attack.
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