Evening star., 1949-02-20
TOn1Hns0n
(Continued From Page CID


in exile during the Ibanez dicta-
torship.
This accounts in part for the
present outspoken opposition OF
the Gonzalez government to the
hurried recognition that the
United States and other govern
ments have accorded the various
military juntas that have taken
over in so many Of the Latin
American countries in recent
months. AS q high Foreign ONCE
official explained 1t. "Our opposi-
ton to extending immediate diplo-
matte recognition to such revolu-
tionary regimes Is first Of all In
self defense. We have reactionary
elements in our military establish
ments just as there are in every
other country on the South Ameri-
can continent. The recent plot
ting which we succeeded in sup
pressing is evidence of this fact.
When the powerful United States,
Brazil, Argentina and others Jump
in to give their official blessings to
such regimes, it encourages the
ambitious elements in all the other
countries, ours included"
Biggest Hurdle Ahead
"As you see." he continued. "the
Gonzalez administration is what
we in this country call a "leftist'
regime. That is to say. in the
words of the late President Roose-
welt, "it is left Of center" You
would call it a liberal" coalition,
So far. President Gonzalez has
shown unusual skill In maneuver-
ing his way through this political
maze. Even his most ardent op-
ponents and critics adAit his re-
sourcefulness, and occasionally
manage to express guarded COM
pliments about his courage. But
the Presidents biggest hurdle will
come in the congressional elec-
tions in March.
In that time the Gonzalez
administration has completely
changed front on the question of
communism. It has not only re-
nounced Communist support,
thrown Communist officials out
Of the government. but spon-
sored "the law for the defense
of democracy" which outlawed
the Communist Party as an Or
ganization and even deprived all
avowed Communist Party men,
bers Of the franchise. It has
openly denounced and severely
dealt with military interference in
politics, even to the extent of
prosecuting and sending to prison
certain army officers for con-
spiracy to overthrow the govern
ment. 1t has shipped out of the
country an Argentine military at
tache for being associated with
the conspirators.
At the moment. the outlook is
favorable for an electoral victory
for the government. That Is, it
looks as If the various pro-Gon-
zalez parties would come out of
the elections with about the same
number of congressional seats
they now hold and perhaps a few
more. OF course. any embarrass-
ing incident within the next few
days might turn the tide in the
direction.
Unfortunately for them, the
Conservatives are not without diff
f1culties in their own camp. Al
faction made up principally of
younger intellectuals have devel-
oped what one of them called "a
strong social mindedneSs A
Chilean in Washington explained
it as what our standpat Repub-
licans in this country might now
call "a strong Dewey-mindednesS."
Labor Elements ReStive
Large numbers of former half
hearted Communist Party men,
bers and fellow travellers, who
have been caught in the Commu-
mist purge are expected to join up
with the liberal parties, in order
to get back into the good graces
Of their neighbors in various COM
At the same time the
unregenerate, Those who are Com
at heart, will doubtless
side with the extreme left-wing
Socialists who are opposing the
government.
Labor elements, especially in
the vast United States-oWned cop
per industry. which had become
seriously infected by communism
are again restive. Under the
prodding of the left-wing Social