ARGENTINA’S ACTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 April 1946, Page 8

ARGENTINA’S ACTION

URUGUAY UNDER PRESSURE TWO MINISTERS RESIGN NEW YORK, Apirl 23. Argentine pressure against Uruguay since the election of Colonel Juan Peron as President has caused a partial crisis in Uruguay, which is one of the few real Latin-American democracies, reports the Montevideo correspondent of the New York Times. It is officially announced that the Labour Minister, Senor Rafael Schiaffino, and the Education Minister, Senbr Daniel Castellano, have resigned, and their action is capable of causing a serious international situation. Colonel Peron’s official newspaper Labourist demands the resignation of the Foreign Minister, Senor Eduardo Larreta, who toqk a similar stand to that of the United States against Argentina. Senor Larreta declined to discuss the situation, which he said was most delicate and capable of causing serious repercussions. Argentina, since Colonel Peron’s election, denounced the radio wavelength treaty with Uruguay, which many think means that the Argentine radio will support an anti-Democratic candidate in Uruguay’s general elections in November.

Argentina has also threatened to demand passports for the tourist trade ■on which Uruguay depends for a considerable part of her revenue. Most important of all. Argentina, for the first time, declined to sell wheat, to Uruguay on the ground that she was physically unable to do so. One of the principal reasons for the resignation of the two Ministers was opposition to a decree to be issued shortly establishing bread rationing.

AMERICAN COMPANY’S LEASE REVOKED BUENOS AIRES, April 23. The- Provincial Government has issued a decree revoking the lease of the hydro-electric plant at. San Luis, operated by a subsidiary of the American and Foreign Power Company, on the ground that the lease was illegal. ’ The company has been ordered to pay for the use of the plant since 1934, when the lease was obtained from the Provincial Government.

The Associated Press correspondent says that the action is similar to the first steps taken in the expropriation of three American-owned power companies in 1944.