Evening star., 1951-04-13
Peron Regime Lashed
BY Paper Carrying On
For MuzzIed Prensa
BY the Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES. April 49,
La Nacion-last major independ-
ent newspaper left in Argentina
following government expropria-
tion of La Prensa last night
lashed out editorially today at the
government of President Juan D.
Peron.
Speaking in defense Of the
muzzled La Prensa, La Nacion
said the congressional vote to ex-
propriate Gen. Peron's newspaper
critic had no legal basis but was
intended Ito prevent the appear
ance of the newspaper as an organ
of independent opinion =
La Nacion. which promised rs
days ago, when La Prensa was
shattered, to carry on as stand
|ard-bearer of independent thought
in Argentina, published a sting
ing editorial against the Peron
administrators drastic move
1t said the authorities might
be able to buy the physical assets
of La Prensa but they could never
acquire its intellectual prestige,
its public confidence"
"Great Voice SiIenced."
La Nacion said the Peronista-
dominated Congress forgot the
Icategoric constitutional precept
which prohibits Parliament from
passing laws which restrict liberty
of the press"
It declared that no one would
have believed such a thing could
happen in Argentina.
But nevertheless we find our
selves confronted with a fait ac-
compli (the thing done). A great
voice has been silenced, but it's
echo will continue vibrating in the
hearts of all those who love lib
erty."
The English-language newspa-
per, the Standard, said in an
editorial that La Prensa would
appear in a few days under new
management and a new name,
"Prensa Argentina"
The Standard said the expro-
priated paper will have new men.
a new idea, and new hopes" It
added: May they prove them
selves worthy of the shadow Of
he giant"
There was no confirmation Of
he Standards prediction in the
government press.
Peronists Celebrate.
Argentine flags waved atop the
La Prensa building and lights
blazed until dawn today as gov
ernment forces celebrated their
appropriation of the great daily
newspaper
The end of the 82-year-old
paper as an opposition force came
last night when the all-Peronista
Senate approved by acclamation
bill forcing the sale of La
Prensa to the government.
There had been no doubt as to
the multi-million dollar papers
fate when the Chamber Of
deputies voted 103-16 Wednesday
to appropriate it. There are no
opposition members in the Senate.
AS soon as the bill passed, the
flags were run up and thousands
of electric lights flashed on
across the front of the five-story
building. La Prensa in the past
had reserved such use Of the flags
and lights for historic holidays.
Would Reimburse Family.
Under the Argentine constitu-
ton Gen. Peron now can either
sign the appropriation bill or let
it become law automatically with
out his signature. at the end Of
20 working days.
Once the sale has been COM
pleted. Gen. Peron has the power
to decide whether the government
shall operate La Prensa or nqui-
date it.
The bill authorizes government
bond issues to reimburse the Paz
family. which owns all the stock
in La Prensa. The sale price still
has not been determined.
La Prensa's editor and publisher,
Alberto Gainza PaZ, Sorrowfully
heard the news of the expropria-
ton In Uruguay. where he fied last
month to avoid q l5-day jail sen.
tence for contempt Of Congress-.
His mother and his uncle are the