Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-21
U. 5. Adopting
;Hands-0ffLine
0nArgentina
BY GEORGE SHERMAN
Star Staff Writer

BY GEORGE SHERMAN
star Staff Writer
While making no secret of
their firm support for Argen-
t1ne President Arturo Frondizi,
United States officials have
adopted a cautious hands-off
policy toward the fluid Argen-
tine situation.
They are extremely sensitive
10 charges that Mr.. Frondizi
may become an embarrassment
to the Alliance for Progress in
Latin America by multiplying the
Feronlst victory in free cleo
lions last Sunday. Previously,
the Argentine President has
been considered here as a model
Tor democratic rule and self
help in Latin America.
These policy makers argue
that the supporters of former
dictator Juan Peron are a
threat to Argentine democracy.
They say the Argentine Presi-
dent has acted within the Con-
stitution to remove governors
IN seven of the 10 provinces
where Peronist gubernatorial
candidates were elected.
No Intention of Resigning
Officials here also say it is
Tar too early to predict Mr..
Frondizi's downfall because of
these maneuvers against the
popular will. or because some
rabid anti-Peron sections of the
Argentine military want still
stricter measures taken.
The United States Embassy
Is in constant contact with the
President, they say, and he has
not shown the slightest inten-
ton of resigning.
These officials note that
throughout his stormy four
years in office, Mr.. Frondizi
has repeatedly said it would
take guns and bayonets to re-
move him before his six-year
term expires in 1864.
They also note that so long
as. President Frondizi remains
at the head Of the Argentine
government. United States aid
under the Alliance for Progress
will continue. But they are
not willing to say categorical
ly in advance what the United
States attitude would be if a
military junta should temper
arily take over the country.
Negotiations are continuing
between the two governments
to decide which specific pro-
jects shall receive the $3.50
million credit in Alliance funds
the United States extended
several weeks ago.
No Yearning for PerOn Seen
Initial analysis Of the cleo
ton returns here has shown
that neither this large credit
nor other United States pri-
vate and Government invest
ment came fast enough to
counteract popular disgruntle-
ment with the Frondizi aus
terity program.
Officials here believe the
large Peronist vote reflects this
uiscontent with sacrifice, rath-
er than any yearning for the
return Of Peron. They note
that the 2 million votes cast
for Peronist candidates Sun
day (out of 7 million) is about
equal to blank ballots cast for
the outlawed party in previous
elections. So Peron cannot
claim any great upsurge of new
popular support, they say.
4 In this view, the problem
posed for Mr.. Frondizi and the
military is the one which has
persisted since the Peron re-
Gine was overthrown in 1855:
How. to counterfeit a strong
popular party committed to the
eradication of democracy.
American officials still are
hopeful that President From
dizi will be able to rule with
the help of Congress, although
he lost his majority in the Ma
Gonal House Of Deputies on
Sunday. The Peronists won
Is, while the Frondizi Party of
Intransigent Radicals retained
only rs seats in the 192-seat
house. Seats in the Senate,
where Mr.. Frondizi has a safe
majority, were not up for re-
newal.
: The result is that a third
party-the Radical Civic Union
Of the People holds the bal
ance of legislative power with
30 seats in the House of Depu-
ties. If Mr.. Frondizi and this
party could cooperate, the
Peronist roadblock to legisla-
ton would be overcome.
: But Mr.. Frondizi's Intransi-
cent Radicals and the Peoples
Radical Party are bitter oppo-
ients. They once were part of
the same party. 1t split I'M
der the Peron regime.
United States officials admit
that the Argentine elections
have been a "step back" for
the Alliance for Progress, but
they deny they are necessarily
representative for all Latin
America.
They note that three other
national elections have been
fought since the Alliance for
Progress began last year-in
III Salvador, Costa Rica and
last Sunday in Colombia. In
all three elections groups sup
porting the Alliance won re-
sounding victories.