The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-06-15
by Dre1C Pearson

both he and Peron now regard U. S. military genius as the worlds greatest Eisenhower was courteous enough not to remind him that two days before D. Day he had also predicted that Europe never could be invaded.~
 The Argentine general then went on to explain that Perons policies not aggressive Their sole purpose he said to revitaze Argentine political and social consciousness long dormant under series of corrupt governments. Nationaism and armed strength argued the General who is of pure German descent were being stressed only part of the pro- gram and not with any thought of attacking neghbor countries or of experimenting an anti-U. s. bloc in Latin America.
 "On the contrary" Won der Becke continued, Argentina whole -heartedly supports President Tr1- mans plan for inter-American military cooperation through standardization of equipment ana training methods"
 What troubled Peron, lie said. were certain phrases in President Truman's message asking Con- gress to pass the Standardization of Equipment Bill which indicated that Argentine participation in the project might be tied to fulfilment of impossible demands" from the State Department
 At this point Won der Becke really turned on the man-tO-man stuff and spoke buntly Assistant Secretary of State Bradens he confided was the only stumbling block to the establishment of the best re- lato1s ever enjoyed between the United States and Argentina.
 Thereupon, he handed Eisenhower an English translation of secret memorandum prepared by and his advisers including of course, Won der Becke himself. The paper contained complete speci- fications for the equipment and training facilities which Argentina hopes to secure through the inter American military cooperation plan
 Present Argentine material is entirely obsolete Von der Becke went on to explain, and must be replaced from source or another. Brazil now has modern streamlned army; and Argentina, as the most advanced" nation in South America, cannot afford to be outdone. It is the earnest desire of Peron and his Army chiefs to obtain their arms in the United States, he said; but they must be ob tained promptly, at all costs (Von der Becke did not mention Russia by name, but the implication strong that the only other of extensive arma ment supplies was Soviet Russia0
 
 Eisenhower, however, played ball with the StaAe Department by telling the Argentine Chief of Staff that this matter would have to be referred to the Secretary of State. He said the War Department had no power to act.
 Next day, Spruille Braden in the State Depart ment wrote scorching memo pointing to the un- usual length of time given Won der Becke-one hour and twenty minutes. This is unprecedented in the who are not supposed to discuss policy, especially when one of them is officially on his way to Johns Hopkins for health check-up. Eisenhower's lengthy conference, Braden complained, had compromised the State Departments entire position.
 NOTE-ThiS columniSt, having long covered Latin American affairs, for years has watched mili- tary juntas built up and wars brewed through the of aTmamentS. Latin American generals can and will secure wherever they can get them Bofors VickerS, U. s. secondhand pedderS or from the Government of the United States. Either way arms always create trouble. Only way trouble can be avoided is by nter-Amerdcan and control de- fense agreement. That is why the State Department doesn't want put the cart before the horse; also why EisenhowerS geniality and U. s. Army medddng have undermining consequences.