FALL OF PERON “IMMINENT”

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27690, 21 June 1955, Page 13

FALL OF PERON “IMMINENT”

Army Control In Argentina (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 19. The fall of General Peron as dictator of Argentina may be a matter of hours, the “New York Times” reported tonight. The newspaper based its report on a telephone conversation between its New York office and Edward Morrow, its correspondent in Buenos Aires. Earlier in the day a correspondent of the National Broadcasting Company had reported from the Argentine capital that the Army was in complete control of the nation and President Peron would never again regain the power he held before last week’s abortive rebellion. The “New York Times” correspondent said General Peron’s resignation had been expected on Saturday night, but did not come.

General Franklin Lucero, the Army Minister, was acting as spokesman for the government, and appeared to have taken over the reins. The “New York Times” said that although news dispatches from Buenos Aires were still subject to censorship, Morrow had been able to talk freely on the telephone. Morrow said that in any new government that might be formed, General Peron probably would retain his title as President, but would be reduced to a figurehead.

The decision on a new government was in the making last night at a conference, the existence of which was known only to a few, Morrow said The “New York Times” said the correspondent, questioned on reports from Uruguay that President Peron might even now be a prisoner of the military had said “not really.” But he added: “He always has a lot of military aides around him, and he is making his headquarters now in the Army building.” “Junta in the Making” The “New York Times” said that from the conversation with Morrow it seemed that a junta was in the making to take over the government. This probably would be headed by General Lucero. The stumbling block to the establishment of a junta, which would include leaders of all branches of the armed services, was the Navy. The Navy still was “fooling around.” The whereabouts of Argentina’s two principal naval vessels, the cruisers Pueyrredon and 25 De Mayo, still were unknown. They constituted a threat to any new government set up without the Navy so long as they were; in nearby waters. They had been reported off Buenos Aires. The National Broadcasting Company correspondent, Robert Lindley, was interviewed in a broadcast which had been recorded shortly before going on the air: “The Army, which saved the day for President Juan Peron on Thursday afternoon, is in complete power, and is carrying out the state of siege most strictly.” Lindley said. “The Army is in command and the Army Minister. General Franklin Lucero, is emerging minute by minute as the real wielder of power. “Peron will never again wield the extreme dictatorial power which he had when the first rebel bombs fell on Government House.”