The resignation of President Ortiz, of Argentina, is a reminder
of how far a nation's destinies may depend on one man's eyes. Dr. Ortiz was elected President in 1937 and assumed office for a six-year term in 1938. In 1941 he was incapacitated by illness—diabetes, which induced blindness ; since then the vice-president Senor Castillo (who is a Junker and pro-Axis, while Dr. Ortiz is a democrat and pro- Ally) has been Acting President. A few weeks ago a leading New York oculist visited the President, and hopes were raised that his sight might be restored by an operation. But the specialist has gone home, pr. Ortiz has resigned and Senor Castillo becomes definitely President—to the satisfaction, doubtless, of Berlin. The history of Eire in recent years might have been different if Mr. de Valera had actually lost his eyesight, as was feared. Lord Grey's blindness, which was never complete, did not become serious till he had left office. In the same connexion the record of Mr. T. E. Utley, of Corpus, Cambridge, deserves mention. Mr. Utley (who has contributed at least one article to The Spectator) has just got a first class with distinction in the History Tripos, being the only man so paced. Having regard to the fact that he has been com- pletely blind from childhood, this is a very notable achievement.
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