Five-Year Men

The project of a vast emigration must save from spiritual and material misery many unfortunates to whom an impoverished Europe no longer offers the elementary possibilities of life and work. The realization of such a project will not only serve to enrich Argentina . . . but also will write in the annals of this clouded and unhappy postwar period a beautiful page of spiritual and corporal mercy. . . .

Thus Pope Pius last week blessed President Juan Peron's scheme for increasing Argentina's population from 14 to 20 millions in 10 years by admitting "selected" immigrants from Europe.

Booking Agent. In Rome, an extraordinary Argentine emissary had already begun the selecting. He was the Rev. Jose Clemente Silva, member of the Salesian order and brother of President Peron's military secretary. His mission: to find in Italy and Spain (while Diplomat Adolfo Scilingo scouted the rest of Europe) the 250,000 workers, preferably skilled factory hands, whom Juan Peron needs for his five-year plan.

Since Father Silva set up shop last month in Rome's luxurious Grand Hotel, 35,000 Italians had filled out his forms. Applications stressed a desire for "peace." Many reviewed war casualties in the family, general impoverishment. All had to sign affidavits of their political correctness (meaning anti-Communist).

Father Silva's first boatload will sail from Genoa next month. Soon it will be followed by 3,000 Poles, members of General Anders' army. By the time Father Silva has opened his Spanish office, he hopes to be sending 5,000 emigrants a month from Europe, all in Argentine ships.

Glorious Future. Emigrants will pay their own fare (about $300), either in cash or in deduction from their pay after they start work. In Buenos Aires they will be welcomed by the Central Immigration Committee, which will find them the sort of job they prefer and can do best. The first general laborers will get the same pay as their Argentine peers, about $75 a month. Under Peron's grandiose five-year plan, which calls among other things for a steel plant almost as big as Pittsburgh's Homestead, there should be plenty for them to do.

Some Argentines were not happy about what they called "a tidal flow of holy water." La Prensa published part of a manifesto of the underground Italian "Fascist Democratic Party": "Our aim is to export Fascist elements to those countries that will listen to them in their propaganda for the fight now going on in Italy." Conceivably it referred to Argentina, a third of whose population is already Italian. Replied pro-Peron El Laborista: "Our doors are open to all men of good will."

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