The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1949-06-02
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES

The Republic Of Uruguay, the
smallest and most Democratic
Of the South American countries,
has an area Of r. square miles
and an estimated population of
100000 of whom one-third re-
side in Montevideo, its capital
city.
Uruguay is located on the tenn
perate zone of South America on
the left bank of the River Plate. |
1t is bounded on the north by
Brazil, on the east by the Allan
tic ocean, on the south by the
River Plate and on the west by
the River Uruguay. the latter two
rivers separating Uruguay from
Argentina on both sides.
The country has a temperate
climate, the temperature rising
above 100 degrees in the sum-
mer or getting below freezing in
the winter--snow is practically
unknown.
Perhaps the even climate has
something to do with the demo-
cratic and friendly spirit of its
people. The Uruguayans have
the reputation (and record) of be-
ing the most genuinely friendly
country in South America to the
United States Of North America.
These people 60 along attend
ing to their own business without
revolutions and without any do
minating ruling class, group or
individual, military or civilian.
Politically and socially they are
among the most advanced people
in Latin America.
Uruguay's institutions are de-
mocratic and its civilian govern
ment is the free choice of the
majority Of its citizens, both men
and women. A spirit of friend
illness toward the "Yanks" as they
call us is shown in every way pos
sible.
The Uruguayan frankly COM
mends, even praises, us for our
efforts to preserve freedom and
liberty in the world. This is a
welcome relief from widespread
propaganda throughout South
America that we are nothing but
economic and political imperial
lists.
Another great point in our
favor is the universal acceptance
in Uruguay of North american
products. 1t is popular" to buy
North American goods though the
predominant influence seems to
be English.
The British own, or have own
ed, the great majority of the stock
in the railroads. docks, water
works, streetcars, gas companies,
OF Uruguay. This country has
completed an agreement to ac-
quire the British-owned railways
for the sum of seven and one-half
million pounds, or in excess of
thirty million dollars. To show
the good hard common sense usu-
ally exercised in this tiny coun-
try, however, part of the agree
ment on the railroads was that
no changes in management or
staff would be permitted for a
period of six months. This pre-
vented a great rush for political
jobs like occurred in neighboring
Argentina when that country
took over the British-owned Ar
gentine railway system.
Popular opinion in Uruguay
seems to be that the government
in buying the railways has got the
British out of what has never
been a very successful enterprise
but for the war circumstances
which created frozen Uruguayan
funds in London. Prices have
already been agreed upon for the
purchase by the Uruguayan gov
eminent of the waterworks and
streetcars.
Though the trend in Uruguay,
as indeed throughout the world,
seems to be toward Specialization
in the government control of uti-
lities and transportation, there is
little evidence of Communist in
fluence. There is a small active
Communist party but it is said
to have little or no influence. 1t
is given full freedom to howl it
self hoarse, unlike Brazil where
the Communist party has been
outlawed.
Uruguay, in keeping with its
tradition of individual freedom
and liberty, shows a spirit of more
tolerance for everything and
everybody than any other coun-
try in this hemisphere. They may
laugh at the Communists but the
latter are free to exploit their
activities as long as they don't
carry things too far.
AS in all South American coun-
tries, the Catholic religion pre-
dominates but there is complete
tolerance of all groups here. How
ever, it is reported that the Ro-