LATIN AMERICA.

Evening Star, Issue 20585, 10 September 1930, Page 8

LATIN AMERICA.

In South America revolution is not unusual. It is merely' the illustration of a habit. The cause is largely racial. Spanish, Portuguese, Indian, and negro ilood, sometimes pure, sometimes mixed, is t„ bo found in the populations of the various republics, with the addition of a comparatively small percentage of different origin caused by the later arrival of people from Britain, Italy, and other European countries. The conditions that prevail may also be in part a legacy from t,. days of the Oonquistadoros, whose ruthless methods in times gone by kept the whole of South and Central America in a state of turmoil. In the last few weeks revolutions have occurred in Bolivia and Peru. These were followed by the developments in Argentina, and now we havo ports of seditious movements in Cuba and Panama. The news from Buenos Aires caused the greatest amount of surprise, for that State wa . 1 ’ted upon as the most stable in South Amreica, with its highly-developed primary and secondary industries, its great export trade, and the progressive development of its educational and social institutions. It seems clear enough, however, though the full story f the events that have happened lately has not been told, that the Xrigoyen Administration had become highly unpopular, and that the revolution is supported by the mass of the people. A milita’-y junta, supported by the Conservatives, controls the situation, but i- must be remembered, in commenting on the situation, that reliance has to be placed on nows that has come to hand after it has passed through a strict censorship. No doubt a contributing factor to the -resent revolution epidemic is economic stress. In times of prosperity and plenty the acts of Governments are

li kcd on with tolerant eyes, but when a period of depression comes a Govern ment forms a convenient scapegoat. In Latin America they do have popular elections, but these are often anticipated or accompanied by violent out bursts, which are often responsible for the rule of a dictator. That appears to bo the positio: in Cuba. At the time of the evaluation of the island the American Administration pledged itself under the powers rt retained to preserve there a republican form of government. Lately the assertion has been made that t ; no republic of Cuba in operation, and that, ; s in other Latin-American countries, decisions are made by a despot who drives those who contest his rule out of the country. This is exactly the charge that was made against ex-President Leguia, of Peru. President Machado is the dictator of Cuba. He was frst elected in 3925, when the island was in a state of great un.est. His term was for i .ir years, and he gave a pledge that ho would not seek a second term. But his conduct soon suffered a radical change. “ Day by day,” it was said, “ his decisions became more arbitrary and his methods more severe until all liberties were completely eclipsed.” Machado gained control of the Constitutional Assembly, amended the laws to suit himself, and, it is said, ruthlessly suppressed all opposition. Sections of the people, including the labour unions, are bitterly resentful, though they have been unable openly to express their feelings; but now, with the island in a condition of grave economic depression, matters appear to have reached a crisis. Hitherto Machado, backed by a strong combination of parties which he created, has been able to checkmate all hostile movements by his opponents. It will be interesting to see whether he can maintain his rule or whether his fate will be similar to that of Leguia and of Irigoyen. The little republic of Panama owes its separate existence to h revolution. It was formerly one of the nine departments of Colombia. In 1903 it raised the flag of revolt and established a separate Government. Evidently the position there is acute, as it is said that the State forces are taking precautions against a surprise attack. The United States Administration watches all this turmoil and the confused strivings with an interested eye. A great Pan-American federation, with Washington as the centre, is a dream which political leaders there would like to soe transformed to a reality.