Evening star., 1949-02-06
Military Disploy
Makes Chile Fear
q Revolt
By Edward Tomlinson
Spseiol 10 The Sunday Stor

1
over Argentina's growing economic
difficulties and the intensive propa
ganda campaign which the govern
ment of Juan Domingo Peron i
carrying on beyond Argentina
borders. Ofdcials and responsible
citizens in Uruguay and Chile, which
have about the oldest and mos
democratic popularity elected civil
ian governments in South America
are particularly worried.
There is widespread talk in the
southern capitals about Argentine
diplomats and military leader,
spreading anti-democratic ideas
among the armed forces Of othel
Latin. American nations. While
there is no definite evidence thai
Argentina had any direct copnec.
ton with them, the recent military
coups in Peru, Venezuela and othel
countries have intensified this feel.
ing throughout the continent. TIL.
high-powered activities and en-
couragement Of the Peron govern.
ment and Argentine Army were ar
inspiration to ambitious military
groups in overthrowing constitu'
tional regimes, many observers in.
sist, even though there was no ap.
parent direct intervention.
Blue Book Statement
They also point to a statement
which Peron made a few years ago
which was reproduced in the cele.
brated Blue Book" on Argentine
issued by our own State Depart.
ment in 1916. Speaking of the
movement which brought him into
power. Peron said: THE aims
sought by the Argentine military
revolution have hemisphere scope
with success already a fact in Bo-
livia and with satisfactory progress
evidenced in other neighborine
countries" His allusion to Bolivia
was a reference to the notorious
Villarroel regime, which enjoyed
PeDn-s benevolent approval until
it was violently ouste1 in 1946.
Only a few weeks ago Chilean
courts openly charged an Argentine
military attache in Santiago with
attempting to foment revolt in the
Chilean Army. At any rate severaI
Chilean officers and civilians were
arrested, tried and some Of them
found guilty of conspiracy. Mean
while the Argentine diplomat was
declared persona non grata" fol
having been intimately associated
with a number of the accused.
And in Lima, a few days ago, sew.
eral diplomats reminded me that
prior to the overthrow Of the elected
Bustamante government in Peru
Gen. Manuel A. Odria, president o1
the military junta now in power
had spent several weeks in Buenos
Aires and had been received there
with the highest honors and atten-
tions by the Argentine Army and
government. In one Of his first
statements after seizing the govern
ment in Peru. Gen. Odria praised
the Peron regime and indicated his
intention to follow many Peronista
policies. particularly in the field oi
social welfare and labor legislation
Chile Watches Border
Col. Marcos Perez Jimenez, q
charter member Of the three-man
military junta which ousted Vene.
zuelan President Romulo Gallego'
and his popularity elected govern.
ment in November. also paid visit
to Buenos Aires before the revolt
TOOK place in Caracas. In Buenos
Aires he was awarded the highest
decoration of the Argentine govern.
ment, made an honorary officer oi
the Argentine Army and showereo
with the most elaborate social atten.
tions. 1t. Col. Felix Ramon Mo-
reno, now chief of staff Of the Vene-
zuelan Army under the military
junta, was likewise made an hon.
orary officer in the Argentine Al,
Force.
Meanwhile, Chilean officials point
uneasily to elaborate displays OF
Argentine military might near thei,
frontier. Some of the largest army
airfields and troop concentrations in
Argentina are to be found at Men
doza, dominating the main pass
through the Andes to Chile; in the
northwestern district of Salta, where
new railroad has been constructed
between Argentina and the Chilean
seaport Of Antofagasta, and even
along the border in remote Pata.
gonia.
The highest officials of Uruguay
make no attempt to conceal Their
fears of the powerful regime In
Buenos Aires. Uruguayans are not
so much afraid of direct attack O,
invasion as Of economic and politi-
cal penetration from Argentina, and
they claim to have ample evidence
of such penetration. They point, fol
example, to the tremendous pur-
chases Of Uruguayan land, industry
and business enterprises by promi.
nent Peronistas. One Uruguayan
cabinet member told me categori.
cally that "two Of Peron's principa
advisers are today among the larg-
est property holders in Uruguay" II
is common talk in Montevideo that
Argentines prominently connected
with the Peron regime are attempt
ing to buy and acquire control OF
Uruguayan newspapers and radio
stations.
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