Counterattack

(2 of 3)

The Real Adversary. Bolivia is a small and pathetic pawn; the real protagonist is Argentina. Revolution in Bolivia would have stirred hardly a ripple if it had been solely a Bolivian affair; the U.S. has recognized other juntas, other Fascistlike regimes in Latin America. Even now the issue is not simply that Argentina's authoritarian regime stands accused of sponsoring a similar regime in Bolivia. The issue is that these regimes endanger:

1) U.S. standing in Latin America; and

2) other Governments friendly to the U.S. and the Allies.

In Argentina the Government is steadily approaching the classic Fascist state. Fortnight ago it dissolved "all political parties existing in the whole territory of the nation." Last week it tightened previous gags on the press, laying down harsh regulations for newspapers, magazines, books, radio, movies and theaters. They can publish nothing which the Government does not like, must make room for all official propaganda. Restrictions on foreign correspondents were also tightened; reliable news from Argentina will be increasingly hard to get.

Catholic religious teaching has been made compulsory in all primary and secondary schools (Argentine Fascism may well acquire a Franco-like clerical front). The campaign against "Communism" is more furious and inclusive than ever. Only one essential is still lacking—an official party to monopolize all politics. Apparently the Argentine nationalist movement (technically not a party and hence not dissolved) is being groomed for the job.

Such is the type of regime which threatens to spread to other Latin countries. Notably endangered is uneasy, inflated Chile (TIME, Jan. 10) which still fears a military revolt, backed by Argentina and possibly led by ex-President Carlos Ibáñez.

Governments on the Argentine model may well be more friendly to the Axis than to the Allies. But, at most, the war is a side issue to the Latin Americans involved. Argentina's dominant Colonels, Bolivia's Majors and frustrated intellectuals personify a wave of military nationalism, Fascist in form but Latin American in its basic origins. For Latin Americans and for the U.S., the important fact is that the Argentine brand of nationalism is utterly hostile to the whole U.S. idea of hemisphere cooperation. If the Argentine influence spreads beyond Bolivia, Latin America will become a set of blocs of isolated, rigidly individual states—and the U.S. will have few or no genuine friends among them.

Cracks in the Clique. Argentina, unlike Bolivia, is neither weak nor pathetic. But her Government is not invulnerable; it has several cracks. Its President, General Pedro Ramirez, pushed into the background by the "Colonels' Clique" headed by Colonel Juan Domingo Peron, does not enjoy obscurity. Within the Clique itself, Peron has serious rivals, who resent his growing power. Most dangerous seems to be Colonel Enrique Gonzalez, Cabinet-ranking Secretary to the Presidency.