ARGENTINE RISING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20713, 5 November 1930, Page 13

ARGENTINE RISING.

//' GOVERNMENT REPLACED. CAUSES OF REVOLUTION. GRAFT AND MISMANAGEMENT. FAITH IN THE NEW RULE. Events in Buenos Aires which led up to n quick and almost bloodless revolution in September and the subsequent appointment of a new Government to replace t'.ii? Trigoyen legime in the Argentine, are graphically described in letters whicr. have just reached an Auckland resident fiom a friend in Buenos Aires. " 'Revolution' is an ugly word," ho writes, "but in tho present case it is the will of • almost, tho entire people, who have at last awakened to realities. My belief is that, now the natural resources and productivity of the country will pull it right out of tho rut into which it has fallen temporarily and that such a Government as has just been unseated will not be seen hero for many a long day, if ever." Coining events had cast their shadow and in August dissatisfaction with tho Irigoyen Government was daily growing moro and more manifest. It was realised that the possibility of a military-political coup d'etat had to be faced, although tho last happening of that nature was in 1390 and was unsuccessful. Only a littlo while previously tho possibility of it would have been scouted as too wildly improbable to be even considered. Exploitation of Country. President Irigoyen, who had held oflico from to 1922, was elected for the period 1928-34. It was a case of tho better part of the population reacting against tho hopelessly bad Government, which/was exploiting the whole country to suit its own political followers. Tho Piesident's own intentions might not have- been as bad as thoso of the people surrounding, and possibly hoodwinking him, but tho result '.vas none the less bad. Graft, corruption and mismanagement were only too obvious. Also the Government was abusing its power to "intervene" in all provinces which were run by men of a different political colour. There had always been some fairly plausible pretext, but in the latter part of Augr.jt intervention was threatened in the important province of Entro Rios, which was extremely well governed, was sound and progressive, and admittedly a model province. Intervention there would havt< meant, the dissolution of the provincial congress, the dismissal of the Governor and of all other authorities, and their substitution by greedy supporters of the National Government for an indefinite period, pending new elections, with every sort of intimidation. That was the position up to August 23 and, the writer conjectured, would arouse wide indignation and serious trouble. President's Prestige. Writing again on September 10, the correspondent stated that events had moved ,rapidly since Ins previous letter. The President's party ' throughout tho couritiy had preached blind obedience to their suggestedly infallible chief, and there were not wanting, in many parts, the more solid arguments of bribery, placegiving,/ threats and intimidation. Also the Piesident was the possessor of great personal prestige, partly because he kept the Argentine out of the Great War, but otherwise inexplicable. He was such a clever organiser that his party gained the day almost everywhere with overwhelming victories, although neither he nor his henchmen ever made any declaration of policy, nor did he personally make any speech oi' other manifestation. Well over 80 years of age. the President was surrounded by a number of unscrupulous " supporters " who seemed to have, been taking advantage of his__declining powers. He used the great scope ■ given By the constitution to rule without the National Congress and had also often gone outside its limits, running the whole country to suit his own party. Public money was squandered to create posts for supporters; many of his assistants had been guilty of the most barefaced robbery and it .had been impossible to collect account's from the Government without paving 10 to 20 per cent, commission. Policy of the Press. Except in one or two backward provinces, however, life and propeity were at least safe. Law and order and a degree of justice were maintained and the liberty of the press was not interfered with. It, was the power of the splendid press the country possesses, added to the general discontent and the failure of the Government, that brought about the happenings of the last few days. Week after week the two great morning papers. La, Nacion and La Prensa, which had at first maintained perfect impartiality, attacked the actions of the President and his satellites and they were well seconded bv a host ol other dailies. The President apparently had always ignored the press. With few exceptions the papers advocated constitutional remedies and until August it was not thought that the country was heading for a revolution. The people were docile and fairlv used to bad government. The Government, had wind of something and fortified Government. House with machine-guns; regiments were moved to disaffecjled points where intervention was threatened; the greater part of the navywas brought, to Buenos Aires; all antiJrigovenists were shadowed flay and night,. From the beginning of those precautions there was such a combined assault bv all the chief organs cf the press as bad over been witnessed anywhere. the patriotic league was apparently at the bark of everything. The. President, obstinately refused to resign, although his own partv saw it was inevitable. On the grounds 'of ill-health he delegated his powers to the \ ice President, M. Martinez. Cabinet Capitulates. Busings opened noirnally on September 6. but. before 10 o'clock military aeroplanes dropped manifestoes on the city. Part- of the army under its proper leaders marched in to do away entirely with the Ingoven regime. All business places closed at once. The navy refused to respond to the Government's appeal foi aid, and under threat of an aeroplane bombardment and a direct assault by the army, joined by a large part of the 11 y s population, the \ ice-President and a inet capitulated. A few Ingoyemst diehards opened machine-gun fire from Congress a mile away on the. forces advancing to take possession and 20 were killed ami 200 wounded before the building was taken. The revolution was a complete success throughout the country, which gadly accepted the decision of the capital. Ihe business* community i" gcneial iegai< s these events with tho greatest optimism and I must say I share it," the writer concluded. "I believe the new pio visional Government to be entnely hones , composed as it is of men of the hig ies moral standing, known for their a i l > and their suitability for their respective posts."