Evening star., 1949-02-20

them expressed it to me at the
time, lin exactly the same way
that your President Roosevelt ac-
cepted the support Of Earl Browder
and the Communists in the elections
of 1940." Yet. in acknowledge
ment of their support, the Chilean
comrades were awarded three
places in the presidential cabinet.
AS Gonzalez friends now express
it, "They were given every oppor-
tunity that truly democratic
constitutional society can offer a
minority party or group to partici-
pate in the political life of the
nation on equal terms with other
groups"
Maneuvered Skillfully
But true to their nature, and
what the government later proved
to be ION orders from Moscow"
they Immediately began to plot
the overthrow of the Gonzalez
regime and the democratic insti-
tutions Of the country. 1t was
then that the youthful Chilean
President proved his ability as q
skillful political maneuverer. He
led a national movement which
resulted in the outlawirg of the
party by the National Congress-,
the dismissal of host of Commu-
mist officeholders, including q
dozen mayors, among them the
Mayor of the capital city Of San
tiago, and hundreds Of smaller
fry who worked in the various
departments and agencies of the
national and provincial govern
ments. At the same time, diplo-
mats of the satellite governments
were so deeply involved in the
plotting that diplomatic relations
with Moscow, Czechoslovakia and
Yugoslavia were broken off.
In this move the President had
the full support of the majority Of
the members and leaders of the
old Conservative Party, as well as
nearly all the centrist and liberal
leftist groups, except the left-wing
Socialists. He also had the COM
plete backing of the army, navy
and the carabineers, or national
police force.
Although the party as an or
ganization has been outlawed,
communism is still powerful
underground force in Chile. In
order to prevent sabotage, riots
and violent demonstrations. espe-
cially in isolated mining districts,
the police and military establish
ments are kept busy day and
night. And, of course, Gonzalez,
the man who turned on them with
such fury when he found they
were betraying him, is their chief
target.
Plenty of Shippers
While battling the extreme left,
the President now finds the reac-
tionaries both in the old Conserv-
ative Party and in the army snip
ing at him at every opportunity.
Their support of his campaign
against the Communists did not
mean an Endorsement of his ad-
ministration or of his political
policies. Now that the Reds have
been partially routed, they would
like to get rid of the left-of- center
groups which have supported, or,
to speak more accurately, which
have actually made the govern
ment's legislative program.
Dissident elements in the Army
have not been averse to plotting
the overthrow of the Gonzalez
administration. Under this and
previous liberal administrations
the military has not Jared so well.
and much worse than their con-
temporaries in surrounding coun-
tries. Salaries have been kept low
and little money has been spent
on new equipment. Younger Off
GERS have been greatly impressed
with the favored treatment &C
corded the military in Argentina
and especially with the fact that
Argentine Army officers are paid
the highest salaries of any army
officers in South America.
In addition ambitious Argentine
Army officers have cultivated and
even plotted with various groups
in the Chilean forces. Evidence
of this was uncovered in the re-
cent plot involving the Argentine
Military Attache in Santiago. Nor
was this the first time an Argen-
tine military man has been in
volved or accused of being a party
to plots in the Chilean military
establishments. Just before the
outbreak of World War II Presi-
dent Juan Domingo Peron him.
self, then a Military Attache in
Santiago. was declared persona
non grata by the Chilean govern
ment for attempting to influence
members of the country's armed
forces.
Rules by Coalition Cabinet
Meantime, Gonzalez is trying to
carry on by truly democratic and
parliamentary processes. He is
administering the government
through a coalition cabinet. Nei-
ther his own Radical Party nor
any one of the half dozen others
that support his administration
has a majority in either branch Of
the federal legislature. Therefore.
he must placate all the variou5
factions, some of which differ
from one another as much as all
of them differ from the Com
munists or reactionary conserva.
tiveS.
These parties do have certain
things in common. They are all
anti Communist, anticonservative.
that is, antireactionary, and above
all opposed to the military having
any part in politics. Many OF
these centrist parties came into
being as result Of the military
dictatorship of Gen. Carlos Ibanez,