Rulers in Argentina
Power in Argentina rests on a balance of forces which are not easily comprehensible to people who live under orthodoidemocracy. Colonel Peron, who resigned last week, maintained his dictatorial power because he had the support of the garrison of Campo de Maya and because no group of officers was stronger than the group that supported him. But the leading officers are themselves poli- ticians and tend to represent the views of certain limited groups of citizens ; but the whole body of citizens are important enough to be worth conciliating, as was seen by Colonel Peron's recent promises of social reform, designed to win support for his Presidential candi- dature. These promises did not commend themselves to the Army officers, who were further, and perhaps more seriously, aggrieved by his overtures to the United States, or what at least appeared to be toleration of American interference. The first move came from General Eduardo Avalos, commander of the garrison, who as controller of ten thousand trained troops on the spot was able to use an unanswerable argument ; though he, too, had to endeavour to secure the support of the rival group of officers at the Military Club. At the moment General Avalos, as War Minister, is in control, and has announced that the elec- tions will be held, as arranged, in April, and ordered complete freedom for the Press ; it remains to be seen how long that freedom, if he remains in power, will be maintained. A change of Government has taken place, but it has been effected by a change in the balance of military influences and not by any democratic procedure. Indeed, bands of workers have discovered that Colonel Peron is their hero, and have been demonstrating in his favour. There is no sign of anything like political stability being achieved.
Previous page
