Shots & Loans

Tearing the bride (symbolically) from the bridegroom's arms is a merry old Argentine custom. Weddings wait not even on revolutions. In Buenos Aires last week--while the conquering revolutionist General Jose Francisco Uriburu was taking his oath as Provisional President ("by God, our Father, and the evangelical saints")--a smart wedding party feasted on champagne, prepared to "tear" the bride. Consequences were historic, bloody.

Tramp, tramp, clump, clump--pure chance brought a marching column of revolutionary troops abreast of the wedding whoopee. Tousled and valiant, bridegroom and bride were standing off their tipsy tormentors. To one hilarious wedding guest, possessor of a seven-shot pistol, the glorious moment clearly demanded noise. Into the air he blazed what sounded like a fusillade--bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Someone yelled "Counter revolution!" In a half-second the marching revolutionary troops sprang into action. Unlimbering their guns they raked the wedding fiesta, then, loyal to Provisional President Uriburu ("Idol of the Army"), they dashed for the nearby Plaza de Mayo (Government Square), eager to shoot up counter-revolutionaries who must be storming the Casa Rosada ("Pink House:" executive mansion).

On the roof of the Pink House perched watchful machine gunners. To their officer the sound of shots in a side street, then a pell-mell rush of troops into the Square, could mean only one thing. Rat-rat-rat-rattled and spat the machine guns.

As Death stalked across Plaza de Mayo, the loyal revolutionary troops supposed that counter-revolutionaries had already captured the Casa Rosada! Scrambling wildly for cover, they sniped back at the machine gunners. But, with every man behind a corner, monument or bit of roof, heads cleared, the mistake was realized, firing ceased in front of the Pink House.

Shotgun Toters. Elsewhere throughout frantically excited Buenos Aires firing had only begun. Supporters of ousted ex-President Hipolito Irigoyen seized whatever firearms came handy, swarmed into the streets with shotguns and hunting rifles, dashed about in motor cars proclaiming General Uriburu's overthrow-- which they may or may not have believed.

The Navy, stanchly Uriburuist, fired a few shots up from the harbor for reasons obscure. Back came shrapnel from an equally Uriburuist artillery unit. One shell, bursting neatly on the deck of the destroyer Mendoza, obliterated an officer, silenced the Navy.

Roaring over Buenos Aires a mysterious plane rained down Communist leaflets-- the only Red phase of the entire disturbance. Promptly an Uriburu pursuit plane whirred from its hangar, prepared to chase the Reds, cracked up on the flying field, spilled out pilot and gunner mortally wounded.

Buenos Aires was Bedlam. But steadily, methodically, hour after hour General Uriburu was bringing fresh troops from suburban garrisons into the Capital. With masterly skill he organized calm, drove the Irigoyenist shotgun-toters off the streets, proved that counter revolution worthy of the name had never existed, made himself highly popular with men of property.

Cool Millions. To popular President Uriburu, scarce 36 hours after the last shot was fired last week, came representatives of Buenos Aires' 14 biggest banks and branch banks (including Manhattan's National City, Boston's First National, Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of London & South America).

"Don't you want some money?" said they in effect to General Uriburu.

"Yes," said he, and on the spot they agreed to place 100,000,000 pesos ($36,810,000) at his Government's instant disposal, the loan to run 180 days at 5%.

Puzzle for Hoover. Up to now President Hoover has upheld the principle (laid down by President Wilson) that it is wrong to recognize a revolutionary regime (such as Russia's) and last week the President was believed to be adjusting himself to circumstances: Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina have all set up "revolutionary governments" since June, and potent U. S. commercial interests clamor for their recognition.

Helpfully in Buenos Aires, Rear Admiral Abel Renard of the Argentine Navy observed to correspondents: "Woodrow Wilson believed all revolutionary movements were not legal, but I can assure you that in some cases--notably our own revolution--it is the only possible method of establishing a legal regime."

Nervously the U. S. Chamber of Commerce of Buenos Aires cabled pleas for swiftest possible recognition, seemed to fear that Great Britain would recognize Revolutionist Uriburu first. Under previous and pro-British President Irigoyen, British businessmen enjoyed many an Argentine Government favor, had a distinct edge over U. S. competition.

Poor Old Irigoyen. Almost every other day last week, 73-year-old ex-President Irigoyen became alternately a "prisoner" and a "guest" of the Uriburu regime. Official announcements on this point finally became so jumbled that only this could be said: a white-haired old man slowly mounted the gangplank of the cruiser Belgrano, walking as in a dream between his daughter and his doctor.

"There is nothing more for me to do in Argentina," said he to the Belgrano's commander. "I had better go." But, although the Uruguayan Government had been officially advised that the Belgrano would bring Dr. Irigoyen to Montevideo, she remained anchored last week, swinging irresolutely at her chain off Buenos Aires, the exile of Irigoyen being delayed until some spot should be found where he would not be too welcome.

Shrewd Uriburu. Having talked by radio fortnight ago to London papers, shrewd President Uriburu spoke last week to New York newsorgans ("I will appoint an ambassador to the U. S. within 24 hours after recognition of my Government"),* and later over a broadcast hook-up to the entire U. S. in Spanish.

When an Englishman followed General Uriburu, read the President's speech in "English," many a U. S. listener chuckled. The Englishman mentioned "Argentynes," uttered in accents of impeccable rectitude General Uriburu's assertion that the "only motives" of Dr. Irigoyen's regime were "grahft, incomp't'nce and th' lowest sensualiteh."

Matter of fact Dr. Irigoyen, though he reaped unpopularity as a senile despot, was famed for his frugality, austerity and tireless (if misdirected) industry--he pig-headedly insisted on reading every bill submitted for his signature.

Keynote of the Uriburu bid for U. S. favor:

"The Argentine Republic has awakened from sleep. ... A rude awakening was necessary for the nation to recover its lofty ideals. . . . The inflexible purpose of [my] government is the upholding of reciprocal international interests, the traditional friendship with all other countries in the world, and brotherhood with the nations in America!"

*Scoop-of-the-week went to no London or New York paper, instead to the Des Moines (Iowa) Register whose Correspondent Harlan Miller beat Argentine censorship by innocently strolling into the Buenes Aires branch of Pan American Airways Inc. asking: "Can I use your phone?" A call from this discreet firm to an Iowa number roused no Argentine suspicions. Soon Mr. Miller was telling his editor about the fatal wedding breakfast, firing off other graphic scoop details which censorship held up for days.

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