THE CURRENT CRISIS IN ARGENTINA

Mr. Whitaker's former book The United States and Argentina (Harvard, 1954) outlined much of the historical background of political, economic and social Argentina which formed that country's modern personality and geared its interactions with North Americans. Looking now to more recent events, he tightens and clarifies his analyses and makes a study of political, economic and military factors of prime interest to anyone concerned with the problems of Argentina- or Latin America as a whole. There is a step by step treatment of the events from June to September of 1955 leading to Peron's downfall. Discussions of the rift with the church (which went back to 1950), the military's displeasure with required courses in Peronismo, and Peron's own rising passions are elements that form a well rounded view of inevitable yet particular reaction, one aspect of which was to end a 70 year domination of Argentina by Buenos Aires. The regimes of Lonardi and Aramburu are closely scanned. With the exception of their differences over ""reactionaries"", both seem to have the interests of democracy at heart and it is with the patterns they are forming that the U.S. must deal. Questions such as investment versus foreign aid, a policy of non-intervention when some sort of intervention seems inevitable, the difficulties inherent in trying to make military pacts compatible with promoting democracy- all have their importance and highly effective results, whichever way they are handled. A general, informed survey (with chronology and appendixed documents) this offers directives in its insight to mistakes on both sides.