Evening star., 1951-11-13
Peron: The Peoples Choice

One of the least surprising events of the year
Is General Juan Peron's reelection as President
of Argentina. Nevertheless, the fact must be con-
ceded that his margin of victory has turned out
to be even greater than lot Of people had
expected-a figure exceeding the 55 per cent
majority that voted for him in 1916.
It must be conceded, too, that the election
itself-though preceded by such dictatorial
actions as the suppression of great independent
newspapers like La Prensa and the denial of equal
campaigning facilities to the opposition-see
to have been relatively free one At any rate
in contrast to strictly totalitarian polling tech
niques, Argentina's voters at least have had an
opportunity to cast their ballots in secret with
out interference or intimidation for rival candi
dates. The fact that most of them-with women
taking part for the first time-have given record
breaking support to the general is therefore
pretty good evidence that he is really the peoples
choice, with his popularity having grown rather
than diminished during the past six years.
This is perhaps the only surprising aspect Of
President Peron's reelection. Prior to the vote,
and on the heels of the abortive revolt in Buenos
Aires last September, many observers had the
feeling that his majority, though taken for
granted, would be less than the one he polled in
1946. The feeling was based the fact that large
segments of the population seem to be anything
but pleased with the results Of his economic
policies, notably the attempt to convert the
country-which is predominantly and richly
agriculturaEinto an industrialized state. That
program, in addition to robbing cattle raisers
and farmers of the incentive to produce surpluses
of meat and grain for export, has brought about
a noticeable decline in Argentina's high living
standards, in urban as well as rural areas Obvi-
ously, however the great bulk Of the electorate
must still be quite satisfied or 1t would not have
voted more strongly than ever for the general.
Certainly, in view of the election returns, there
can be no doubt that President Perons popularity
is solidly based. Much as 1t may reflect poor
judgment on the part of the voters the size of his
victory margin is proof enough that his policies
economically risky and politically dictatorialare
policies favored by most Of the Argentine people
at this time The Argentine people, moreover,
have shown that they do not take kindly to
criticism or pressure from the United States.
They still remember with resentment former
Ambassador spruille Braden's heavy-handed
meddling in their internal political affairs-a
resentment that the Peronistas effectively ex-
plotted in the recent campaign even though our
official policy has long since repudiated the
Braden approach.
What remains to be seen now Is whether
President Peron, having won this big new vote
of confidence, will grow more dictatorial or less.
The fact that the returns show a dissenting
minority of upward Of 40 per cent, coupled with
the fact that opposition is reported to exist in the
Argentine army, may exercise a restraining inf1u-
ence on him. In any event, however, our own
official policy must continue to operate in keeping
with the reality that he has the mass of the
people strongly behind him as he prepares to start
his second six year term.