Evening star., 1949-06-12

opinion developed among officials
Of the Peron government. For
eign Minister Juan Attic Bra
muglis and others pointed out
what was already apparent. In
sofar as foreign trade was con-
cerned. IAPI had broken down.
President Peron was compelled
TO fire his high-handed economic
car. Miguel Miranda. the arch
advocate and administrator Of the
government trade monopoly. Mi
randa and his advisers were re-
placed by new set Of officials.
including O new Minister Of Econ
omy and q new Minister of Fl
nance. both partisans of Foreign
Minister Bramuglia.
Talked With u. s. officials
At this point informal repre-
sentations were made to the United
States Government for help and
encouragement. At least q more
friendly attitude toward United
States officials and businessmen
became apparent. United States
Ambassador James Bruce had
labored day and night to induce
President Peron and his advisers
to modify. II not abandon. their
arbitrary treatment of United
States investors.
Eventually Argentine Ambassa-
dor Remorino also became con-
vinced Of the futility Of the Argen-
tine position. He voluntarily dis
cussed the entire situation with
oficials Of the State Department
and the Departments of Commerce
and Agriculture and with other
high officials in Washington. Then
he went to Buenos Aires and laid
the whole picture before President
Peron himself. It can be said that
he carried no definite promise from
Washington, no assurances Of q
quid pro quo.
The Ambassador was told In
the bluntest language that this
country is perfectly willing to
trade with Argentina but not on
arbitrary terms. There are many
things we could and would like
to buy, but only at world market
prices. Experts have estimated
that $3.50, 900 900 worth of canned
beef and other packers products
could have been sold In this coun-
try in the past year. and that
not less than $50. .000, 900 worth Of
tanning materials. woods and
other imports might well have
come from Argentina II the
prices had been right.
Finally Peron's envoy was re-
minded that trade with this
country could not very well -four
ish 90 long as United States bust
nessmen were being cudgeled and
hamstrung, and United States in
vestments threatened with con-
fiscation. Special attention was
called to Article 40 Of the new
Argentine constitution. which. In
effect, calls for appropriation Of
United States and other foreign
owned utilities.
Not Expecting Much
All these comments Ambassador
Remorino took with him to Bue-
nos Aires. Offlcials here are per-
fectly willing to give him the ben
eft Of the doubt and to believe
that he has correctly reported the
assurances made to him by the
Peron regime. But no one will
be greatly shocked or surprised
If few Of them come to fruition.
Washington has at last come to
understand the vagaries and un-
certainties that govern the acts
and promises Of an authoritarian.
not to say O totalitarian-minded
government.
Certainly United States busi-
nessmen are not only skeptical,
but many of them look upon the
new British agreement as severely
limiting commerce with this
country, no matter II o large por-
ton Of the export and import
business is returned to private
interests. We formerly sold
Argentina some $115.000, 900
worth Of petroleum products a
year. Under the Anglo-Argentine
pact, Britain will now supply this.
Except for agricultural ma
chinery. the British will also fur
nish Argentina with railroad
equipment and other heavy ma
chinery. As the head Of one Arm
with large investments tied UP in
Argentina pointed out, ut
wouldn't be 50 bad If the agree
ment with the British were q
short-term affair. to take care of
the present emergency by supply
ing the British people with meat
for which they pay In British
goods. but f1ve years Is q long time
for two countries to tie UP their
trade in q barter arrangement"
At any rate, the State Depart
ment logically points out that such
bilateral agreement brings
about discrimination" It also runs
counter to the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade. entered into
at the international trade confer
ence in. Havana last year. an
agreement which both Britain and
the United States have signed.
Unfortunately, the entire pro-
gram is threatened by the politi-
cal struggle going on within the
Argentine government household.
The Bramuglia-Remor group
are compelled to fight for their
lives against the extremists. head
cd by Sonora Eva Duarte de
Peron, wife Of the President. who
has long been looking for the
scalp of DR.. Bramuglia. She still
has an old grudge against the
Foreign Minister, in that he didn' t
exert himself greatly In behalf OF
Peron when the then dictator was