Evening star., 1945-09-28


of repression" imposed in Argentina
through state of siege and whole
sale arrests of democratic leaders.
1T behooves us and all other
liberty-loving nations to stand by
these people," he declared.
At a stopoff in San Juan, Puerto
Rico, yesterday, Mr.. Braden said
he was shocked, but not surprised"
by the tactics of the government
which is dominated by its Vice
President, Col. Juan Peron.
Mr.. Braden described those ar
rested in Argentina as patriotic
citizens whose sole desire is to re-
turn their country to the freedom
of constitutional processes and rep
reSentative government"
Acheson Withholds Comment.
Mr.. Acheson withheld any COM
ment on Argentine developments
pending consultation with the Pres
ident, Mr. Braden and Secretary of
State Byrnes, who is expected to re-
turn in day or two from a meet
ing of Big Five Foreign Ministers
in London.
He promised that any decision
reached in this consultation will be
announced.
The consultation, it was said
authoritatively, will involve a micro
scopic review of American policy
toward Argentina with a view to
determining what steps might be
taken to promote the cause of
democracy in that country.
Reaction in Congress included de-
mands for severance of diplomatic
relations or application of economic
sanctions.
There was great question on what
could be done to stand by" the Ar
gentine Democrats, short of direct
armed Intervention, and on whether
Mr.. Truman would approve such a
drastic step. The effectiveness of a
break in relations or sanctions was
doubted
The 1898 Declaration of Lima pro-
vides for consultation and the ap-
plication of advisable measures if
the peace and security of any
American republic is menaced.
The Act of Chapultepec, adopted
by 20 American republics last March
at Mexico City, establishes proce-
Edure for applying sanctions of all
kinds. This act resulted from fears
of aggression by the present Buenos
Aires government.
1t was pointed out, however, that
the Act of Chapultepec can be ap-
piled to the Buenos Aires regime
only if its actions are considered a
threat to other American nations.
An immediate question facing
this Government is whether it will
favor, going ahead with plans for
an Inter-American Conference
scheduled to convene at Rio de
Janeiro October 20 to draft a per-
manent hemisphere defense treaty
in line with the Act of Chapultepec
and the United Nations Charter. It
was doubted that the United States
and other American republics would
be willing to permit the present
Argentine government to partici-
pate.
Break in Relations Favored.
Congressional reaction to the de-
velopments in Buenos Aires included
an assertion by Representative
Celler, Democrat, of New York that
'it proves you can't cure cancer
with plaster. The time has come
to break diplomatic relations and
apply economic sanctions" His
comment was echoed on both sides
of the Capitol
Representative De Lacy, Democrat
of Washington declared: Il think
we ought to cut them off the list
apply little political cold shoulder
and some economic sanctions"
Senator Butler, Republican, OF
Nebraska expressed regret that the
Argentine government seems to be
suppressing the real feeling of the
Argentine people"
| Representative Coffee, Democrat
LOT Washington, said "It is time fol
the United States to sever diplo-
matte relations with the current
Fascist government of Argentina.