Evening star., 1950-04-23

them puts II. Vargas is once
again an important political fig-
ure in Brazil
On Thursday, the Associated
Press reported from Rio de Janeiro
that Vargas had agreed" TO run
again for the presidency.
To-day" the Brazilian went on.
Vargas is unfriendly TO the
United States. He feels that your
through AmbaSSa-
dor Adolf Berle. was responsible
for his overthrow. On the other
hand. he is extremely friendly to-
ward the PeroniStas in Argentina.
He has spent most of his time
since he lost power AZ his
ranch on the Brazilian ArGentine
frontier.
You may also remember" con-
tinueS the Brazilian. that II
was only after careful maneuver-
ing that Vargas cast his lot with
you in the last war. He would
certainly be reluctant to do so
again, especially If Argentina
were neutral"
The general impression seems
to be to the contrary but it Is
a fact that the Argentines them
selves are largely responsible for
what one official has described as
this current approach to United
StateS-Argentine relations" No
one is naive enough to believe
they would have made the 'ap-
proach" If they had not been
pretty sure the door was open.
The thing that seems to have
aroused most Of the suspicion on
the part of the skeptics. and the
critics of the new policy, is the
fact that Assistant Secretary Of
State Edward G.. Miller, jr.. had
made a much-publiciZed visit to
Buenos Aires previous to Secre-
tary Acheson's disclosure that
assistance to the Argen-
tines might be in order.
However. 1t should be remem-
oered that Mr.. Miller has been
following a policy of visiting all
the countries of the hemisphere
FOR the purpose of seeing for him
self the problems with which his
office, the Bureau Of Inter-Amer-
lean Affairs, must deal. Actually,
negotiations hooking to the ad-
justment Of commercial and in
vestment difficulties between the
two governments had been going
on for many months before the
Secretary went to the Argentine
capital.
Argentine Mission Here
Last September a group of Ar
gentine officials. headed by Or.
Julio Juncosa Sere, director gen.
eral of the Argentine Ministry of
Economy, with the assistance of
Ambassador Jeronimo Remorine,
Peron's envoy in Washington. be-
gan a systematic exploration of
all the angles affecting United
States-Argentine trade and eco
nomic relations. Afterward dis
cussionS between representatives
of the two governments were con-
tinued in Buenos Aires.
Finally an imposing mission,
under the leadership of DR.. Ra-
mon Cereijo. Minister Of Finance
and chairman of the Argentine
National Economic Council. came
to this country to discuss definite
proposals and plans for a revival
OF trade and to work out with
United States companies the
question of settling their individu-
al problems.
Washington is merely meeting
the Argentines half way in their
quest for new deal in the eco
relations with the United
States. The State Department =
cannot very we'll disregard the fact
that we have tremendous stake
in this important South American
Investors have more than
a half billion dollars tied up in
packing plants, utilities and other
At best they will do
well to salvage even half Of this
sum. United States exporters are
still due 500 million for goods
shipped to the country, and for
which there is no dollar exchange.
Naturally our Government is
not taking the responsibility Of
adjusting these matters itself.
All negotiations for a settlement
Of these questions are strictly be-
tween the companies and the Ar
gentines. The Department Of
State is only attempting to create
a favorable climate for a salts
factory solution.
Different Story at Home
Washington is also realistic
toward the fact that this sudden
reversal on the part Of the Peron
government Of its extremely ma
tionalistic attitude toward this
country was no easy matter. 1t
expects that. for home consump-
ton, the Peronistas. who have
been beating their breasts about
self sufficiency and economic in
for so long, will deny
that they are looking for loans or
credits, or that they have made
concessions TO the Yankees. or
that they have softened their
policy toward the independent
press.
1t is the feeling Of our offlcials
that If the Argentines want TO
make trade and commerce with us
easier, and II they are willing to-
help United States investors oper-
ate on a businesslike basis. and
get their earnings out Of the
1t Is all to the good. II
in the process all this improves the
internal economic situation. even
TO the extent Of making Peron's
more secure. 1t 10
hardly for us to raise any objec-
ton.
1T Is better for all concerned"