ARGENTINE RULE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24828, 26 February 1944, Page 7

ARGENTINE RULE

PRESIDENT RESIGNS CHANGES IN THE CABINET (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES, Fob. 25 It is officially announced that the President of Argentina, General Pedro llamirez, has resigned "because of ill-health." He is succeeded by the Vice-President, General Edelmiro Farrell. A Montevideo report snys that practically the whole Cabinet "has also resigned. President Ramirez is said to have made this statement: "Exhausted by the strenuous tasks of government which make it necessary for me to take a rest, immediately, I have handed over my post to the Vice-President." General Ramirez became President of Argentina last June. At the end of January, an announcement was made that the Government of Argentina had broken off diplomatic relations with Germany and Japan, and a few days later it was stated that relations with Axis satellites had also been severed.

On February 15, it was reported that a coup, organised by a group of army officers known as the Gou,_had resulted in the ousting of the Foreign Minister, Genera] Gilbert, and the resignation of other Ministers. It was then stated that the position of the President appeared to be greatly compromised. The Montevideo correspondent of the Associated Press said that the opinion in Montevideo was that General Ramirez's resignation would be forced, and that the Vice-President, General Farrell, would succeed him.

Finally, on February 21, the President issued a statement denying that the Ministerial resignations were forced by army officers because the Government was on the verge of declaring war against the Axis. The President said the Government never had such an intention, and the officers _ were not guilty of such a breach of discipline.

AXIS AGENTS IN CHILE POLICE MAKE 100 ARRESTS (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 The Chilean police have arrested about 100 Axis agents in the last few days in a drive to smash the enemy spy ring which formerly operated under the direction of the German Embassy at Buenos Aires, according to an official source. Although direct communication with Germany was broken off when Argentina severed diplomatic relations, crews of neutral ships and clandestine radios have been transmitting information to Berlin. The Chilean Government indicated that drastic and speedy action will be taken against enemy agents. EGYPTIAN CENSORSHIP LONDON. Feb. 24 Tho Egyptian Senate last night angrily discussed the press censorship, says Renter's correspondent in Cairo. 1 ieykal Pasha, president of the Liberal Party, said London newspapers coerced the Government to release news of the malaria menace in Southern Egypt. Hussein Sirry Pasha, a former Premier, also accused the Government of suppressing news of the malaria outbreak and said the censors banned an article stating that 65,000 persons had died in Southern Egypt while food intended for tho victims had been stolen.