We Shall Have Bullfights

Argentina last week played an ace. But perhaps not a trump.

At the diplomatically ungodly hour of 8 a.m. the unrecognized Argentine Minister in Washington, Rodolfo Garcia Arias, called at the Chilean Chancellory. The sleepy mayordomo let him in, telephoned Ambassador Marcial Mora at his home. The Ambassador was shaving, but he hurried downtown without breakfast, to receive with reluctant hands a diplomatic hot potato: a memorandum from the Argentine Government for delivery to the Government of the U.S. It announced that Argentina had asked the Pan American Union to call a full-dress conference of Foreign Ministers to consider the Argentine case.

In a tone of hurt dignity, the Argentines offered to appear before the assembled Hemisphere, allow themselves to be judged. They deplored the present disunity, with their Government recognized only by Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay and Ecuador. They claimed to have fulfilled their obligations to Pan American cooperation.

The memorandum contained one hint and one joker. The hint: "The present state of things [said the Argentines] creates divisions that are incompatible with the traditional spirit of brotherhood existing among nations bound by proximity, origin and ideals." The U.S. is not near Argentina, does not share, to the Argentine nationalist mind, the same "origin and ideals." Perhaps some Argentines hoped to split the Hemisphere into Latins v. Anglo-Saxons, shove the U.S. toward the doghouse.

The joker: bluntly the Argentines forbade discussion of their domestic affairs. Since the most frequent accusations against them have been the alleged fascist flavor of their Government, its alleged tenderness toward local German interests, the reservation made full discussion difficult.

Nevertheless, the memorandum was a bombshell. The U.S. State Department dove nimbly into its foxhole, disclaiming formal knowledge of the Argentine request. This was formally true, for Ambassador Mora was consulting his Government before delivering the memorandum.

The Pan American Union had a copy, and both the U.S. and Argentina are members of the Governing Board. But it was not likely that the Board could announce a decision soon. Any American nation may ask for a conference, but since all 21 Governments must be consulted, there is plenty of chance for delay.

In Buenos Aires, the request amazed the Argentine people. Some thought their stiff-necked Government was softening up. Some applauded its cleverness. If denied a hearing, it could claim to be persecuted.

In Washington, the Latin American diplomats were in a dither. Some were reluctant to sit in dangerous judgment on Argentina. Others welcomed the conference, now that Argentina had asked for it. Said one pro-U.S. diplomat: "We are divided. Some are cursing the Argentines' mothers, others their fathers." Said another: "This is a beautiful chance to spank the Argentines on their rear ends where they keep their brains.'' Said a third: "Now the party begins. We shall have bullfights."

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