ARMED REVOLT IN ARGENTINA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23967, 7 June 1943, Page 5

ARMED REVOLT IN ARGENTINA

President Castillo Overthrown. ARMY GENERAL IN POWER (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, June Si An armed revolt against the Government of Argentina, which began on Friday, has ended with the resignation of President Castillo and the formation of a military Government with General Arturo Rawson as President. The new Cabinet, which is mainly military in character, all but two of its members being senior Army or Air Force officers, will be sworn in to-morrow. General Pedro Ramirez, a close friend of General Rawson, is Minister of War, a position which he held in the Castillo Government. President Castillo, who attempted to maintain the Government from a warship, later surrendered. He resigned the Presidency and has been allowed his freedom.

General Rawson, who is partly of British descent, has pledged his Cabinet policy as "American solidarity but continued neutrality for the present." Admiral Saba Sueyro, who actually led the revolt, has been appointed Vice-President. Other members of the Cabinet include Senor Domingo Martinez (Foreign Minister), Admiral Benito Sueyro (Minister of the Navy), Admiral Storni (Minister of the Interior) . President Castillo, who was released from custody after his resignation, returned to the Presidential residence to pack his private belongings. All his Cabinet colleagues have been released from arrest, except two who will be tried by a regular Court on undisclosed charges. Life in the capital has returned fa normal. Shops have opened and people have resumed work as a Ghvernment order banned all celebrations. Character of Government

The first reports of the revolt stated that several thousand troops under General Ramirez had risen against tha Government because its foreign policy was out of line with that of the rest of the Latin American States. Argen* tina is the only Latin American couptry which has not broken off diplomatic relations with the Axis.

ITie international significance of the revolt is still controversial, ‘according to the diplomatic correspondent of tha United Press. Military observers reacted cautiously, discounting the first view that the overthrow of President Castillo meant that Argentina will throw in her lot with the Allies.

The Associated Press says that Uruguayan officials are disappointed over the almost completely military character of the new Government. Several members are known to be extreme rightists. This has exploded earlier hopes that Argentina would be ruled by a Democratic team. i The exiled leader of the Argentine Socialist Party (Senor Nicolas Repetto) told New York reporters tnat the revolt was a palace revolution, not an expression of the popular will. The State Department in Washington is maintaining silence pending clarification of the attitude of the new Government on foreign, questions. However, observers in Washington express optimism that' General Rawson will line up the country with the rest of the hemisphere on war issues.

Before the revolt ended General Rawson is reported to have said that it was strongly democratic and proAllied. He also promised that the Rio de Janeiro Pact calling for severance of ties with the Axis would be carried out as soon as possible. Reasons for Revolt

The Director of the United States Office of War Information .(Mr Elnjer Davis) broadcasting to-day, said the chief importance of the quick and al-imert-blMdtess revolution was that it sHowecPtfiat even the Conservative and military classes in Argentina realised that the Axis was going to lose the war. Argentina had remained neutral and a base for Nazi and Fascist agents because of the policy of President Castillo, which until recently had the support of the Conservative and military ‘ elements. The majority did not like it, but repressive methods had succeeded in keeping the discontent down. Mr Davis said the upset came only when. President Castillo’s own supporters realised that he was on the wrong horse and that Argentina was losing ground not only in the esteem of the rest of the world, but also in economic and political standing in South America where Brazil was enthusiastically on the side of the Allies, and was assuming the leadership. “The Argentine revolt has produced strong hopes that the country will now align itself with the United Nations,” says the Washington correspondent o£ the “New York Times.” "The Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Knox) at his press conference said ‘it looks as though the pro-Axis administration hasbeen unhorsed.’ "Reports received, in Washington indicate that the military leaders have conducted the revolt. Diplomatic circles are of the opinion that it grew from the concern of the Argentine militarists at the country’s isolation from the Western Hemisphere and her inability to obtain from America aeroplanes, military equipment, steel, and other essential supplies. Officials also state that Argentina hitherto has been used as a base for Nazi spies and fifth columnists, and as an important base for information for U-boats operating in the Atlantic; These activities will henceforth be stopped. “The revolutionary march to the capital was marked by only one small clash at the naval engineering school on the outskirts of the city where two soldiers are reported to have been killed. However, reports from Montevideo, estimate the total casualties throughout the country at 100 killed and 300 wounded." Lead in Armaments The Washington correspondent of the "New York Herald-Tribune” says it was not a popular uprising to force the Government to line up with the United Nations. Although 90 per cent, of the people are reported to have favoured a break with the Axis this issue was an incidental matter while the principal reason for the coup d’etat was the concern of the military leaders at the great lead in armaments which is being taken by Chile and Brazil as recipients of lease-lend aid. The British Government has received a number of reports from the British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Sir David Kelly) concerning the Argentina revolt. These reports in general confirm the fact that President Castillo and certain members of his Cabinet left Buenos Aires in a river gunboat. By the afternoon it appeared that the capital was generally quiet. General Rawson, who was in command of the troops which entered Buenos Aires, sent his naval aide to great Sir David Kelly in the name of the Provisional Government, and the aide informed Sir David Kelly that the new Government would be constituted within the framework of the Argentine Constitution in conformity with democratic principles. Ninety per cent, of the Argentine people are said to favour Argentina's breaking with the Axis. Dissatisfaction has grown rapidly in recent months. The liberal army elements became more vociferous, particularly after the Allied victories in Tunisia.