Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-25


able, according to one legend.
popular story, Uncle Sam has
than medicine.
In any case, this weeks
illnesses that afflict this count
Both countries are rich or po-
tentially rich. But both look to
the United States, and Specifi-
cally President Kennedy's ALI
ance for Progress, to help
them regain lost ground and
strengthen their economic back
bones.
Major elements of the popu-
lation, especially in Argentina,
are ready to strike back at the
helping hand. The leading
hackers of Juan D. Peron who
won last Sundays elections
contend that the United States
expressed the issue as Pentagon
or Peron.
That can be a popular issue
to rally the Argentine common
man who balks at a program
Of austerity introduced by
President Arturo Frondizi with
the announced aim of restoring
economic health. The common
man remembers how Gen. Pc
ron used to picture him as a
king. He may forget that
Gen. Peron also brought the ma
ton to chaos, until the military
moved in.
Much U. S. Cash Needed
Seven years later, the military
is insisting that last Sundays
PeroniSt victories be nullified.
Mr.. Frondizi has moved to do
so, but the last word on that
is still to be heard.
Whatever the outcome, one
thing is clear. It's going to take
United States money and lots
OF it to help cure the poverty
and sloth plaguing Argentina
and Brazil. It's going to take
strong cash medicine to help
clear away warnings for Cas-
trolsm, communism and dicta-
torShip.
That's the aim of Mr.. Ken
nedy's $40 billion program. Dip
lomats who know both coun-
tries we'll hail the alliance. But
some wonder if the money will
do the trick.
In their view the funds must
power a massive effort toward
induStrialization and overall
economic development to stem
the tide of discomfort.
Fear of Painpering
They doubt the wisdom of
stressing such projects as So
cial welfare in the form of
funds for housing, schools and
medical care.
I'VE wonder" a diplomat
asks, IF this smacks too much
OF trying to pamper poor sec
tors of the population without
attempting to cure the deep &C.
onomic ills which make the
misery in so many countries"
1t is claimed, for example,
that no amount of welfare
spending can possibly pull the
% million inhabitants of Bra
zils appalling poor northeast
out of their poverty. Basic in
naturalization is needed.
But the problems facing a
successful aid program are
enormous. Too many people see
the alliance plan as simply 20
years of handouts from Big
Uncle. In both countries ma
tionalist rejection of capital in
vestmentS in basic industries
still flourishes.
Outcries Arise Again
Until recently political lead
erS in Brazil and Argentina
were making clear that United
States aid could be a master
plan for collaboration between
hemisphere nations, a way to
open backward areas for pri-
vate capital investment that
can eventually mass-produce
the goods so desperately needed
by the millions of poor.
But the old, time-worn out
cries against Imperialism are
creeping back. Politicians and
demagogueS who hope to cap
ltallze on popular discomfort
are shaking the anti-Yankee
banners once more.
That kind of appeal-as the
Peronist victories in Argentina
and the Castro fever in Brazil
demonstrate - works wonders
on millions.
But seasoned observers are
convinced the way to persuade
the needy that the way to live
better is to work better, is to
show the evidence - factories,