PERON AND THE PLOT: OPPOSITION INCREASING

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25638, 29 October 1948, Page 6

PERON AND THE PLOT: OPPOSITION INCREASING

ARGENTINA

[By a Special Correspondent of the -Christian Science Monitor.” October kj (Reprinted by arrangement)

Lima. Peru—The Peron regime in Argentina perhaps for the first time, haf become genuinely anxious over th? scone and power of Its opposition at home Thl? is the belle? among observers watching events in Argen tina from this point of vantage. Scepticism persists as to the existence of a personal plot A® ainst xE®£; dent Peron and his wife. Official « “discovery” of such a plot by the Peron government is not thought convincing. . However, special significance is seen in the fanatic concentration of the Peron propaganda drive against international capitalism.” which is neiu wholly responsible for the conspiracy against the Perons and their government. The “hundred families” of Argentine society and the “displaced politicians” are blamed primarily because they are supposed to have sola themselves for “foreign gold.” Either President Peron is a consummate actor or somfi evidence has been uncovered which has convinced him that he is up against an international consortium planning his downfall through financial bankruptcy. In every recent speech and Interview he has launched flaming fire against what he terms overseas opposition-. Observers agree that the Argentine President is strongly convinced he is under economic blockade by the United States. Actually, of course, he is merely suffering the consequences of his own policies. ' . ‘ But the fiery speeches go on, with monotonous references to “economic independence” and the battles required to maintain this. Foreign correspondents are mere “international spies” for the "foreign imperialists” and the “hangman’s rope” is being kept handy for those at home who would sell themselves for “capitalistic gold.” Hectic Week for AH Eva Duarte de Peron, his wife, has loosed a series of speeches in which she has threatened to bring out the “street army” against- any who dare conspire against the regime. Colonel Domingo Mercante. Governor of Buenos Aires* Province and reckoned as the most loyal presidential supporter, told Argentines in a national broadcast that the alternative facing them is “Peron or the murderous imperialism.” He eulogised Senora de Peron as the Argentine Jdan of Arc displaying “heroic militancy against foreign domination.” He charged that “magnates and crooked lawyers would gladly deliver her to 'the flames of the enemies of the fatherland.” Since the hectic week of the plot and its aftermath, all the sensational eloquence of ministers and the flaming lithography and raucous text of the official publicity machine have been mobilised to convince Argentines of a foreign conspiracy. The names of expelled foreign correspondents are printed in large letters on street placards and shouted in startling overtones over the radio network. They

are called "men and women without a country” and are represented a« “roaming from one land to calumniating Argentina—“a land over* flowing-witn generous hospitality.” , There is no doubt that the dollar shortage is the main cause of the Peronista anger. The five-year plan. was mentioned recently for the first,’ time in many a day by,the President ’himself. He said that Argentina would; use its gold stocks to see the plant through, buying the maohinery tQ complete national independence. It was obvious in which direction his thoughts . and fears were flowing. Dollar Loan Refused

But, as for a dollar loan, rumours of which had been rife, he declared he would cut off his hand before he would seeK assistance, “not to mention sign an agreement.” He passed some of the blame to Britain for stopping the conversion of sterling into dollars, “thus breaking an agreement between the two countries.” He even criticised European countries, "who owe us nearly 2 000,000,000 dollars for wheat.” Then he added Brazil to the list of neighbours among whom foreign influence is, at work "to interfere with our trade.” To this presidential lead must De added a string of invective aimed at foreign targets by other spokesmen for the regime—ministers, newspapers, and radio stations. Agriculture Minister Carlos Emery obliquely intimated that grain lands would be converted into pasturage if foreigners did not buy Argentine wheat, while the British were told by the same authority that they had better hurry up and pay a higher price "or they may be left without our exquisite chilled beef.” Economic Minister Miguel Miranda added his contribution —that Argentina was ready again to burn wheat rather than lose money on it abroad. The official newspapers kept up the allegation that the Marshall Plan was designed for American seizure of Argentina’s European markets.

Mfranda “Squeeze” Ignored No word has been Said about tha European revolt against the three-year Miranda squeeze on hungry Europeans nor of the American contention that Marshall Plan dollars can go to Argentina only when it sells at the international level—which is now lower than the American level. This, of course, has provoked more Peronista outburst! against the “blockade.” United States Ambassador James Bruce and Argentine Central Bank President Orlando Maroglio have been in the United States attempting to work out a compromise with officials in Washington. Only a few hundred thousands are trickling down to Argentina, whereas millions are being assigned to neighbours. Senor Miranda has sent buying teams into Uruguay, Chile, and beyond, sending up the dollar to new high levels for the local free markets in his frantic search for dollars.