Evening star., 1945-01-12
Argentine Muneuvers

The Argentine governments note
to the Pan American Union an
nouncing It's decision to abstain from
participating in any further meet
ings of that organization so long as
1t continues to disregard Argentine
rights" and to "alter the procedure
OF consultation" is the latest move in
a complicated diplomatic chess game
between Buenos Aires and Washing
ton.
The current match began nearly a
year ago, when our State Depart
nent declined to recognize the re-
gime OF General Edelmiro Farrell,
installed by veiled military coup
and evincing spirit which our gov
ernment deemed hostile to Pan
American cooperation in the war
effort against the Axis powers. Since
our policy of nonrecognition was
followed by most of the Latin Ameri-
can republics, it resulted in Argen-
tina'S diplomatic isolation in the
Western Hemisphere.
Argentina's countermove was a
request to the Pan-American Union
last October to convene a special
meeting of American foreign minis
ters to consider the controversy over
Buenos Aires foreign policy. This
move was shrewd one. Based on
valid diplomatic precedents, it evoked
some favorable reactions in Latin
America on the ground that no
union member should be denied a
hearing to defend itself against seri-
Gus charges. The State Department.
thus had to move cautiously in order
to avoid rousing i'll feeling in Latin
America over what might be misin-
terpreted as both discrimination and
dictation.
Nevertheless, the granting of Ar
gentina's request would have been
diplomatic defeat for Washington
and would have implicitly recognized
the Farrell regime as a union mem
Der in good standing. Therefore our
State Department evolved an equally
shreWd maneuver in two phases. The
first of these was a motion of the
Board of Governors of the Pam
American Union deferring indefi-
nitely. over the heated protest of
the Argentine delegate. a decision
on his governments request. Coin
cldentally, our State Department
announced that conference would
soon be held, probably at Mexico
City, ito study war and postwar
problems. However, this conference
would not be under union auspices.
1t was planned after diplomatic ex-
changes between "the American ma
tions cooperating in the war effort"
thereby effectively by-passing Argen-
tina, which could take no legal action
under union procedure, since the
union was not involved. It's diplo-
matte isolation was therefore inten-
sif1ed, yet no open rebuff was admin
istered which might drive Argentina
to resign from the union or other
wise precipate a formal breach in
pan-American comfy.
Argentina's ripoSte, already noted,
takes middle course between tacit
acqulescence and radical action. It
does not resign from the union but
abstains from participation until its
rights" are regarded. This maintains
its dignity and it's diplomatic claims
but avoids an open breach with
consequences that might be irrepa-
rable. Press dispatches from Buenos
Aires indicate that Senor Peluffo, the
Argentine Foreign Minister, was put
under severe pressure by the extreme
nationalists to take defiant stand
for Argentina's honor" but sue
ceeding in holding his ground.
Such is the present status of pro-
longed controversy that has steadily
sharpened, with no signs of yielding
on either side, but with an obvious
disinclination on both sides to pro-
ceed to extremities. The eventual
outcome is unpredictable at this
time.