Evening star., 1950-11-12

SAAsA N0AAASAAV
The voters Of that turbulent
polls last Friday to select Presi-
dent and members of Congress
who, If they are as lucky as their
predecessors have been up to now
will rule for the next six years
The present government of Presi-
dent Juan Jose Arevalo has sue
ceeded In surviving no less than
20 violent plots and revolts to
overthrow it.
There seems TO be little doubt
about the outcome Of the elec-
tions themselves. BY the time the
fateful first day Of balloting began,
the race for the presidency, al
though no less than eight candi-
dates were in the running, had
narrowed down to one outstanding
candidate against the field. He is
1t. Col. Jacobo Arbenz, former
Minister of National Defense, who
has had the support of the army,
the militant nationalist and leftist
elements of organized labor, as
well as the vast majority of gov
ernment workers. Victory for Col.
Arbenz therefore seems to be a
foregone conclusion. Although one
violent outbreak occurred in the
early part of the week, 1t was
quickly put down by the armed
forces.
What worries. our officials, buSi-
nessmen and others is whether
the next administration will follow
the policies of the present one.
The Arevalo government had
been from the very beginning pro-
gressively leftist, but in the past
two years 1t has followed, or al
lowed itself to be maneuvered
into following a pro-Communist
line. At least 1t has been seriously
influenced by persons of avowed
Communist beliefs and practices.
Reds Well Received
Communist labor union leaders
have organized pro-government
political parties. Manuel Pinto
Usaga, dictator of the railway
unions, largest labor organization
in the country, and now secretary
general of the Workers Political
Committee, has been one of the
most powerful figures in the ma
tion. Another is Victor Manuel
Gutierrez. secretary general of the
Federation Of Guatemalan Work
ers. member of Congress and one
of the eloquent f1rebrands. These
and many others have long en-
joyed the confidence of the Presi-
dent.
Outstanding Communists, driv-
en- out or unwelcome in other
Latin American countries, go to
Guatemala where they are re-
ceived as heroes by the present
government. Red Senator Pablo
Neruda Of Chile. noted poet and
man Of letters, who has found it
more desirable to live abroad ever
since the Communist Party in that
country was outlawed, was a re-
cent guest Of the Guatemalan ma
Non. Vicente Lombardo Toledano,
expelled from the Mexican Con-
federation of Labor, which he
founded, because of his pro-Rus-
sian preachings, has been able to
take the Guatemalan labor unions
into his leftist Latin American
Confederation.
Probably the most damaging in
dication Of Red influence in off,
cial circles was the assassination
in the summer Of 1949 of Col,
Francisco Javier Arana, popular
head Of the military junta that
overthrew Dictator Jorge Ubico,
and OF which Arbenz was q mem
ber. Colonel Arana was not only
the prospective presidential candi-
date OF the more conservative
elements in the government and
the country as q whole, but he was
outspokenly anti-Communist. His
body was riddled by machine-gun
bullets on a public highway Just
outside Of Guatemala City, and
his murderers have never been ap-
pretended. A little while later
there was a revolt In the armed
forces. Afterward several hun
dred officers and men said to have
been friends Of Arana were shot,
Candidate Arbenz was Minister OF
Defense at the time.
Says U. S. Capital Welcome
Despite q local propaganda
campaign In the government press
and over the government radio
against foreign business concerns.
especially the North American
owned railways, the United Fruit
Co. and the United States-owned
power companies, Foreign Min
lister Ismael Gonzalez Arevalo tnot
to be confused with the President)
former Ambassador in Washing
ton, insists that United States
capital is welcome and desired In
the country.
Foreign Minister Gonzalez Are
valo, during a recent visit to
Washington. told a press confer
ence that his government was not
only anti Communist. but that 1t
was cracking down on Communist
propagandists. At that very mo-
ment, he said, the administration
was taking legal measures to ban
fhS ropoyo,,r;et you,eooror <No%,,