Quiet Inauguration

Venezuela's problems officially become President Romulo Betancourt's problems this week. Before a skeleton crew of delegates from overseas--held down at the economy-minded President-elect's own request, he will get into the ceremonial sash and inherit the headaches left by ousted Dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez.

Problem No. 1 on Betancourt's list is unemployment. Estimates of the jobless run around 170,000, or about 9% of the total work force. The problem bedevils Betancourt most in Caracas (pop. 1,000,000), where an estimated 70,000 are out of work. Just a fortnight ago, a few hundred demonstrators snowballed into a wild march of 15,000 unemployed toward the presidential palace. Only tear gas stopped them short. To prevent similar embarrassment during inauguration week, the lame-duck government banned demonstrations of any kind.

Betancourt proposes to attack unemployment through encouragement of foreign investment, emphasis on agricultural development, a solid program of public works. Schools must be built for 600,000 children now crowded out. Hospitals are needed; Betancourt says: "We should never again witness the spectacle of two women ready to give birth occupying one single bed." At first Betancourt will be pinched for funds for the reconstruction job. Dictator Perez Jimenez left short-term debts of $1.4 billion, and half of them still remain to be paid.

This week's inauguration bears witness to Betancourt's concern over finances. He scheduled no balls, no parades, no mass banquets. Instead the delegates:--including U.S. Chief Delegate Thomas E. Dewey --will be treated to a drink or two at a pair of official receptions, an evening of symphony at the municipal theater, and the welcome sight of a hard-working friend of the U.S. taking over oil-rich Venezuela.

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