Evening star., 1950-07-23


continent. Thanks to him it had
lost that enviable position in the
early days Of World War II, when
he and his military supporters
hoisted the banner of extreme and
blind nationalism and deliberately
prevented their nation from carry
ing out its inter-American obliga-
tionS.
Such narrow, and now admit
ediy mistaken, policy apparently
belongs to the past. Some skepti-
cism had followed the Argentine
Presidents statement to a group
of United States publishers and
Congressmen in the first week OF
the Korean war, when he said
that "all American nations should
stand united" and then went on
to declare in effect that he would
match his words with deeds. But
the strong man of the pampa
country has surprised the skeptics
by being the first head of Latin
American state to call upon Gen
Macarthur to indicate what Ar
gentina can do to help in the fight
against the latest totalitarian ag-
greSSion.
Miller's Role Vital
President Peron's willingness to
give effective aid to United States
forces In Korea is all the more
dramatic, because his Peronista-
controlled, not to say hand-picked.
Congress had delayed for nearly
three years a formal ratification
of the Inter-American defense
pact, obligating Argentina, along
with the other Latin republics, to
resist any attack on an American
state. Every foreign Office from
the Rio Grande to Cape Horn was
envious of his swift seizure of dip
lomatic initiative.
Peron's action also places As
sistant Secretary of State Edward
G. Miller in the very front rank
of hemisphere diplomats. There
is no question that he is equally
responsible with Peron himself for
the present spirit of cooperation
of the Argentine government. He
sponsored the lew rapprochement
between Washington and BuenoS
Aires which preceded it. After
several years of the grossest and
most scandalous financial mis-
management, the Peron regime
was on the verge of bankruptcy
Even Peron was willing to concede
that a housecleaning was i'm
perative. His emissaries quietly
dismounted their high horses and
made overtures to Washington for
help.
This was Mr.. Miller's cue. In a
bold move he went to Buenos
Aires, sat down with the man who
actually runs Argentina and
frankly told him the facts of life
as regards United States-Argen-
tine relations. Finding the Ar
gentine ruler willing to talk
turkey. Miller then agreed that
we would meet him half way in
any contructive attempt to restore
normal economic and political re-
lations with this country.
In fact, the Assistant Secretary
recommended to the State De-
partment and other governmental
agencies the whole program of
economic cooperation, including
the $125 million loan, or credit,
from the Export-Import Bank. the
details Of which are now being
worked out. looking to a revival
OF trade and commerce between
the two nations.
Others Follow Peron
Even after this, most State De-
partment officials, including Mr..
Miller, kept their fingers crossed.
Argentina is richer and eco
nomically more advanced than
most Of the other South American
countries. Many of them, includ-
ing Brazil and Chile, have de-
pended upon it for their wheat
and q large portion Of their meat.
It's military strength has often
been cause for speculation, if not
concern, among its neighbors.
This was true before the ascend
aney Of Peron. Since he assumed
power its armed forces have been
expanded and equipped to the
extent that today 1t Is the first
military power Of the continent.
For these and other reasons most
Of It's neighbors have usually been
slow to take o definite stand on
ticklish international questions
affecting the Western Hemisphere
as q whole that were diametrically
opposed to Argentine policy. Some
Of these governments hesitated in
the last war, until they were def
nitely sure that the United States
and the Allied powers were des-
tined to win.
Whether all of them would have
lined up with us so promptly this
time, IL Argentina had held back,
is difficult to say. Fortunately
they were not put to the test.
President Peron did not wait to
consult them. or to see what they
were going to do. Although not
yet committed to the Rio treaty,
he, deliberately directed his obedi-
ent lawmakers to ratify and as
sumo all the obligations Of it, as
well as those of the Organization
of American States, and the United
Nations, and so advised the Tru-
man administration through his
Ambassador in Washington.
Complete Unanimity
There is little doubt that Peron's
cooperative stand had a reas-
suring, if not decisive influence on
the positive action of the 10 other
Latin American governments
Without exception they have all
adhered to the decision of the
United Nations Security Council