Argentine President Warns Opponents Against Insurrection

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1948, Page 5

Argentine President Warns Opponents Against Insurrection

(Rec. 9.35). NEW YORK, Sept. 9. The President of Argentina, Colonel Juan D. Peron, has threatened to hang those who oppose his plans to reform the republic’s constitution. Under the constitutional reform, which President Peron promulgated into law last week, the President is given unlimited powers whenever he considers that an emergency exists. Earlier, both of the -Argentine Houses of Congress had adopted the measure. What opposition exists can scarcely now hope to halt the reform. In a nation-wide broadcast from the inland city of Santa Fe, President* Peron said: “I, who' have pardoned them all of the acts which they have committed against the nation, who have asked fox' peace, and who have asked for tranquility—my voice will not tremble on the day I order them all to be hanged”. The President said that he and his followers knew where they were going, and what they wanted. It was time that the opposition knew this too. “Because”, he said, “it will cost them dearly i.f they forget that, in this land, when it has been necessary to impose the will of the people, it has not mattered what number of Argentines have had to die to impose it. We have offered them peace, and ( work, in collaboration with us. But 1 let them learn, and learn once and . for all, that, if they want war, they I are going to get war. And above all,' 1 let them know that, if they decide in favour of war, either they or ourselves are going to 1 be annihilated”.