Evening star., 1947-06-13
Columnist Scoffs at Amazing Discover.
That Argentina Is a Democracy

, ship. At that point Mr.. Braden did
what became him as a self-respect-
ing man. He resigned.
Choice Is the Perfect One.
On Mr.. Braden's resignation as
Ambassador to the Argentine, the
President had sent George S. Mes
sersmith to succeed him. Mr.. Mes
sersmith, at the time, was our Am
baSsador to Mexico. I have never
ceased to wonder that a man of his
qualities should have the rating In
the diplomatic service that, officially
at least, has been accorded to Mr..
Messersmith. But if it was the
Presidents intention to whitewash
Peron so that we might later en-
brace him without altogether losing
| face, his choice of Mr.. Messersmith
was a perfect one. At once, Mr.. Mes
sersmith started in to appease Peron
and to give him sugar coating that
would make him palatable to the
democratic taste of the United
States.
Mr.. Messersmith, on occasion,
would write long letters to the edi-
tor of one of the leading New York
newspapers in which he gave con-
fldential information which was
supposed to be for the eyes and ears
of his superiors in the State Depart
ment alone. He even gave permis-
sion that these letters be read at
editorial staff meetings, thus max
ing possible the dissemination of
important diplomatic news as to
the Argentine before the State De-
partment thought it opportune to
give out that news.
Shortly before Mr.. Byrnes re-
signed as Secretary of State, Mr..
Messersmith came to Washington to
talk about his Braden troubles and
bodily ailments to all who would
listen. It was in the cards then that
he would remain in Washington for
reasons of health" However, when
Mr.. Byrnes suddenly resigned, Mr..
Messersmith returned to his job of
appeasement Now having painted
Peron the lily, he has served his
country by resigning, probably at
the suggestion of his superiors. Un-
fortunately, it is said that he is to
be given a post in the State Depart
ment. Thus we reward our broken
down diplomats and "streamline"
and strengthen our State Depart
ment.
Dear Uncle George
Peron, the Argentine press which
he controls, and the outlets of public
opinion which all derive from him,
have impertinently demanded that
Mr.. Messersmith be continued. Hav-
ing found that his fulminations
against Mr.. Braden brought results,
Peron does not see why dear Uncle
George" Messersmith should not be
allowed to stay in the Argentine If
he wants him. 7 do not blame Peron
for wishing to keep Mr.. Messer-
smith. He could not possibly obtain
another representative from the
United States who would be more
compliant or more unrepresentative.
AS tending to show how instinctively
and unerringly democratic Peron
and his immediate followers are, Mrs.
Peron sailed for Europe about the
time that Spruille Braden's resigna-
ton was accepted. Her first stop
was Spain, where she was greeted
effusively by that other great "dem-
ocrat," Franco. She was given and
returned a generous Falange salute
by Frances soldiers while he dec
grated her with the highest order on
tap, the Grand Cross of Isabella.
On June 7, Peron appointed as
| his private secretary one Rudolf
Freude, the son of Ludwig Freude,
who stood well up on our list of un-
desirable NaEi leaders in the Argen-
tine. This might be regarded by any
one not too deeply charmed by
Peron as thumbing of the dicta-
torial nose at the United States. 1t
all goes to show what q job Of de-
INazifcation dictator Peron can do
when he undertakes 1t.
| If only j. Edgar Hoover could be
sent to the Argentine to count the
pampered German Nazis there!
Such an assignment would also keep
him out of President Truman's con-
gressional district in Missouri
where it seems that ballots steal
themselves.
tCopyright, 1e47)