Evening star., 1962-09-28
THE EVENING STAR AT
Washington, D. c. =
FrideY, September "a, 1862

-
mon thesis is that the military
must stop playing politics and
return the government to legal
constitutional procedures as
soon as possible.
Under Gen. Juan Carlos On
gania they have ousted a more
fanatical group Of officers from
the high command. This fac
ton goes under various labels
-"gorillas," democrats" or
"colorados."
They had gained ascendancy
in the middle Of August, and
for a month-and-a-half tried
to turn the government inside
out. Their common thesis is
that democracy can only be re-
stored in Argentina after a
thorough-going purge of the
body polite through a strict
military dictatorship. -
But observers here are quick
to note that the differences be-
tween the "legalists" and the
"gorillas" can be easily exag-
gerated. That would be a mis-
take, they say. On certain
points their differences are still
too vague to allow any safe pre-
dictions for the future.
Problem Of FrOndizi
For instance, it is noted here
that in all the clash of bitter
communiques both sides have
conveniently omitted all men,
ton of the prisoner president
Frondizi. He is like a skeleton
in the military closet which
both sides would like to forget.
But the feeling is growing
here that he cannot be Off
cially ignored much longer. The
'legaliSts" cannot really spon-
sor a return to strict constitu-
tional government so long as
he is their unwilling prisoner.
His future, in turn, is intimate
ly bound up with any plan to :
handle the Peronists through
legal democratic procedures.
During his four years as
President Mr.. Frondizi followed
policy Of "integration" to-
ward the PeroniSts. His idea
was to ban the totalitarian ex-
cesses Of the old Peron system,
while offering the ex-dictator's
lieutenants and followers re-
spectability and progress with
in the new democratic system.
The gamble was that this
combination of carrot and stick
would break the nostalgia al
legiance to the ousted dictator. :
1t failed, mainly because the T
military never trusted the sim z
cerity of Mr.. Frondizi's anti-
Peronism and because Argen- +
tine progress was not fast
enough to allay the discomfort :
of the Peronist masses. ps
Nevertheless, the first signs
are that the "legalist" army
faction is now preparing to re-
turn to a modified version OF
that policy. They have pledged
free" elections in the quickest.
possible time, and open par,
ticipation by all groups-pro-
viding they renounce all totali-
tartan tendencies.
There have also been hints
from Buenos Aires that the new
military leaders will meet with
the Peronist lieutenants to work.
out the exact formula for their
participation. These lieutenants
have loudly proclaimed since
their victories last March that
they are no longer a totalitari-
an party, but q 'left-of center"
group willing to work within
the constitution. 81
Distrust ON Both Sides
The central problem is q lack \
Of trust on both sides. The
military is not wholly convinced
Of the Peronist change of heart,
and wants a strict electoral
statute to curtail their elec-
toral power. The Peronists, on
the other hand. still fear that
whatever portion Of power they
gain even through controlled
elections will be denied them !,
by the suspicious military.
The central need is to clear :
the atmosphere and establish
a climate for democracy. Since
the fiasco of last March, new
President Guido has responded
to gorilla" pressure by nulli-
flying the elections, closing
Congress. banning the Peron-.
lists. and postponing elections
for a new President and Con-
gress until October, 1868.
The "legalistsP have prom
iSed to reverse that trend. But
they cannot do it without the
cooperation Of former Presi-
dent Frondizi. He has refused
to resign the presidency, and
therefore becomes stumbling
block to a peaceful return to
genuine constitutionalism. Ear
ly elections for a new president
cannot be held until he re-
nounces his claim to the presi-
dency. 50
Furthermore, Mr.. Frondizi
still has iron control over the
Intransigent Radicals - the
largest party in the Congress.
The peaceful restoration of
Congress and Intransigent
Radical participation in new !
elections is therefore also de- !
pendent upon Mr.. Frondizi's re-
lease.
Reports reaching here indi-
cate the new military leaders q
ship is preparing to make over :
lures to their prisoner. Their i
appeal will be to his patriotism.
The argument is that his vol-
untary resignation at this point 5
will wipe the slate clean and