Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-17
u. 5. Prestige Is Seen
Falling in Argentina
AsPeron WidensLead
By J. F. McEyov

Assoeiofed Pfsss Foreign Correspondent
BUENOS AIRES, Mar. 16.-Some
diplomats said today the prestige of
the United States in Argentine had
dropped in direct proportion to the
success at the polls of presidential
candidate Col. Juan D. Peron.
They said this was Illogical. since
the United States State Department
had pinned its hopes on the Demo-
cratic Union and the Unions can
dldate DR.. Jose Tamborini, while
other countries - notably Britain.
which needs Argentine meat-left
themselves margin on both sides of
the political fence.
There is an attempt to make the
State-pepartment the scapegoat for
the lack OF success of the Democratic
Union, even on the part of some who
had hailed publication by the State
Department 10 days before the cleo
ton OF blue book charging many
members of the military govern
ment with having dealt with the
Nazis.
304 Votes Indicated for Peron.
DR.. Tamborini said today that Col
Peron had built up so great a lead
that the presidential election zap
pears definitely lost as far as the
Democratic Union is concerned"
Latest returns showed that Col.
Peron, candidate of the Labor Party
and military faction, has an indi-
Gated electoral vote of 304 against
II for Tamborini, with 1879 electoral
votes necessary to win the presi-
dency.
Col. Peron has captured 108 GER
tain electoral votes in provinces
Wnere the count in the February "a
voting has been completed or a
majority of the votes has been re-
corded, and holds wide leads in
otner provinces and Buenos Aires
City which would give him 1876
more. DR.. Tarnborini has 80 GER
tain electoral votes and probably
will gain "a more when the count
IN cordoba Province is completed.
Asserting that he would not for
mally concede Peron victory until
his last mathematical chance of
victory had disappeared, DR.. Tam
borini pointed out, however, that |
the trend of the election, espe-
cially in Buenos Aires Province
which has 88 electoral votes, gives
us no reason for false optimism )"
Try to Blame U. S.
Now that Col. Peron, former
strong man and vice president of
that regime, apparently is elected
president, his political opponents
are attempting to fix the blame on
the United States.
Many Neutral observers contend
the election die was cast several
months before the February "a bal
lotting, and that the Blue Book
influenced few votes. But they
add, Col. Peron used the Blue Book
to play on nationalist spirit and to
picture himself as a martyr perse-
cuted by foreign power.
Street vendors now are selling a
notice announcing the demise of
the Democratic Union and listing
Sprullle Braden, American Under
secretary of State, as a chief sur
vipor, followed by DR.. Tamborini
and the latter's running mate,
Enrique Mosca.
American-owned packing houses
OF the Armour, Swift and Wilson
companies are strike-bound, giving
the Nationalist further oppor-
tunity to attack what they call
foreign imperialists.
U. S. Officer Booed on Street,
Additional evidence of unpopu-
larlty of the United States is seen
in the recent incident in which a
United States officer in uniform
was booed on the streets of Buenos
Aires. This was, however, an iso-
lated occurrence.
Despite the fuss raised over for
eign affairs, an analysis tends to
show that thee Argentine election
was decided on the basis of domes-
tic issues. Col. Peron built UP q
disciplined organization through
control of labor unions which were
seized while he was Secretary of
Labor.
On the other hand, the demo-
cratic union made an irreparable
in failing to invite the Con-
sentative party to join it. The Dem
ocratic Union met opposition from
at least 80 per cent of the Catholic
clergy by including Communists In
the coalition. The party also failed
to appeal to the little people," to
whom Col. Peron made a bid with
his program of pensions and wage
raises.
Many representatives of Ameri- :,
can firms here are concerned about
feeling against Americans in official
circles. They said this might force
Argentina into alignment with Sow
let Russia, which has a trade mis-
sion en- route here. }