Diario las Américas Newspaper, May 16, 1954, Page 28

’ THE AMERICAS DAILY Miami, Fla., Sunday, May 16, 1954. Published by THE AMERICAS FUBLISHING COMPANY G@ A. SAN ROMAN S. SMITH ke President Vice President HORACIO AGUIRRE Editor and Manager FRANCISCO AGUIRRE Viee President and Publisher Carlos E. Simons Managing Editor William B. Scharrer Head of Circulation Dept. Ralph B. Ross Head of Advertising Dept. FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS IN WASHINGTON DC. CALL THE AMERICAS DAILY OFFICE. Phone RE-7-7415 Suite 910, 1001 Connecticut Ave. Washington & DC, United Press and Editor Press services. Advertising Department for the Waited States and foreign countries c/o Joshua B, Powers Inc. SUBSCRIPTIONS, by ordinary mail $12.00 per year. For six montns $6.00; three months $3.90. By air mail in the United States, Mexico and Canada, additional $3.60 a month. Regular issue 5 cents. Sunday issue 10 cents. 4349-36th st. Miami Springs, Fla. Phone 88-7521 MIAMI, FLA., SUNDAY, MAY 16, 1954. THE CRISIS IN INDOCHINA MUST NOT DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM THE ONE IN THE AMERICAS Anxiety and admiration have marked the pro- gress of a struggle carried on by French Union forces at Dien Bien Phu, with the world in awesome expectancy of the outcome. Western statesmen have been witness to the catastrophe involved in the fall of the Indochinese bastion and they are justifiably reduced to consternation and alarm over the new triumph of Communism in the Southeast Asian sector. At the same time, the policy makers of the United States must not make the fatal mistake of concentrating all their efforts on Indochina while here in the Americas many-sided issues are demand- ing their proper share of attention. Here problems are arising daily and need adequate study without delay. The habit in Washington, however, is that of procrastination, shown in one way or another. Whenever it is felt that these inter-American pro- blems have reached the point where they can no longer be put off, the usual procedure is to treat them all in a vague sort of manner, without due respect for their respective degree of gravity. In a recent press conference Secretary of State John Foster Dulles alluded to certain international aspects of a strike which has paralyzed operations of United Fruit Co. banana plantations in Hondu- ras. Later on the Honduran foreign minister him- self corroborated what Dulles had said. Both of them implicated the Guatemalan government in their statements. The fact that the two men went out of their way to refer to the strike in such a particular fashion shows that something was in the wind, yet since those statements were originally made nothing more has been heard of the matter, this despite the well known infiltration achieved by the Communists in Guatemalan labor organizations. Neither Secretary Dulles, the foreign minister of Honduras nor any other statesman in the Amer- icas has let out a peep since those original disclos- ures—disclosures which are definitely meaningful. All one hears in Washington is talk of the Asian situation. The result of this is that over-concentrat- ion on that world area has led to neglect of serious affairs right here in this hemisphere. We repeat here what we have given as a title to this editorial— The crisis in Indochina must not distract attention from the one in the Americas. STANLEY J. TRACY’S REITREMENT FROM THE F.B.I. Whenever a public official retires after having served over a period of many years, it means that he is receiving the reward which is his just desert for Joyal service. Retirement means not necessarily the end of all active life but rather the end of one particular aspect of such activity. That is the case of Mr. Stanley Tracy who is now leaving the Federal Bureau of Investigation after having attained the post of assistant director of that important govern- ment agency. Mr. Tracy served with his chief, J. Edgar Ho- over, at a time when the duties and responsibilities of the F.B.I. were undergoing the greatest expansion they had ever experienced. During World War II Mr. Tracy extended the range of his unrelenting ef- forts to the Latin American neighbors of the U. S., and thanks to him a number of those nations today have excellent identification bureaus within the framework of their national security agencies. Although Stanley J. Tracy is now withdrawing from active collaboration with the F.B.I. in a phys- ical sense, the recollection of the unflinching labor devoted by him over the years to that organization will remain behind him in the minds of his fellow workers and in those of people in the free world. resident Of Venezuela, Col. Pérez Jiménez, peaks In The Wake Of The Tenth Conference IN A SPECIAL INTERVIEW, VENEZU=LA’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE TOUCHES UPON MANY ASPECTS OF HIS COUNTRY AND DESCRIBES HIS ADMINISTRATION ‘S ACCOMPLISHMENTS “WE VENEZUELANS ARE DETERMINED TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES OF A NATIONAL UNION”, HE SAYS Weeks have run by and absorbed with them into the background are the echoes of the ardent or calm speeches delivered by the delegates dur- ing the X Inter-American Conference. The pres: ses work eagerly to produce hundreds of doc- uments and the Chancelleries of America are, in all certainty, gathering data and trying to judge the results. The host government proceeds to disperse a complete and almost perfect cretariat. The huge buildings erected in a hurry to house the delegates are now reversing, little by little, to the rhythm of their new mission, which is no other than their original intended use: to house the University City, the highest educational center of the Venezuelan youth. We can no less than admit that no other Inter-American Conference has enjoyed more comfort and dignity. The Gov- ernment of Venezuela fulfilled its assignment to the maximum achievable and made gigantic ef- forts to provide the delegates of the Hemisphere with the facilities afforded by modern technique. The University.City, Capital of the Americas for the duration of the X Inter-American Con- ference, was dressed in all its splendor. The buildings were completed within the time self- stipulated by the Venezuelan Government, which with characteristic American intensity maintained three shifts active 24 hours a day. Venezuela thus answered the call made to her in Bogota in April 1948 by the sister Republics. Progress and Security The Caracas-La Guaira Superhighway —a dar- ing engineering achievement—, the comfortable Tamanaco Hotel, the recently built International Airport at Maiquetia and the imposing Armed Forces’ Club Building complete the round of unprecedented preparations. The persistent vig- ilance of many individuals and the expenditure of many hundreds of thousands of Bolivares gave America something simply never achieved by any other country. And before this pictre of material great- ness, there was another ...tor —precisely com- plementing the first— we should say, that as- sured the success of the X Inter-American Con- ference. For several months the Chancelleries of America lived under the stigma of an interroga- tion. Rumors that circulated and plots uncovered gave reason to believe that Caracas would live through bloody and tormenting hours of tragedy like the ones experienced during the IX Inter- American Conference, when the otherwise refin- ed Capital city of Colombia was shocked by the fatal blow that went down in history as the “BO- GOTAZO”. Anonymous material circulating by airmail throughout the 20 other American Re- blics warned that coming to Caracas was danger- ous and that it was better for American Statesmen to vote for a postponement of the Conference, lest they wanted to be among the casualties. The Government of Venezuela then gave reassurances that there would exist a peaceful and secure environment for all. The stability of the present government, backed by the country’s forces and sustained by a legitimate Administration, rein- forced the measures taken by the Ministry of the Interior and the National Security. The President of Venezuela, Col. Marcos Pé- rez Jiménez, assumed before America full re- sponsibility for the safety of the delegates; for that reason, and in view of the failure of the anarchist plotters, it can be said that in the Final Report of the X Inter-American Conference there is a Resolution, unwritten yet actuallyggpived through, which could well be identified a¥ No. 118 of said Report, recognizing the stability of the Government of Venezuela, that was reflected in a climate of complete calmness during the deliberations of the X Inter-American Conference. Press Coverage in Caracas The activities of the Conference received special coverage by the press of the Hemisphere. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs were and still are under the fire of constant publicity. All had the opportunity to implify in press conferences, either individually or in group, the ideas convey- ed in their speeches or in debates during the Conference. However, there was no such op- portunity for amplification and comment of the inaugural address delivered by the President of Venezuela, and which contained original ideas of positive merits. It seemed to us then more than logical to do everything possible to obtain a per- sonal interview. DIARIO LAS AMERICAS —hav- ing, precisely, a hemispheric goal— requested and was granted the privilege through our publisher. At “Quinta Guzmania” The interview was held at the “Quinta Guz- mania”, in Macuto —principal resort of Caracas— where the President visits often. There, in the intimate surroundings of home, the Chief of State rests with great simplicity. It can readily be felt that he is well pleased with the climate prevail- ing there, in the big house where three little girl romp happily in the four corridors. They are his daughters, Margot, Flor Angel and Maria Sol, whose outbursts drown the sound of the waves and the foliage that for years have seen many Presidents go by... Col. Pérez Jiménez is not talkative, yet he is enthusiastic when expressing his ideas. His manners are spontaneous and un- affected. The Presidency has not in the least diminished his eminently human behavior. He bears his responsibility with all the characteristics of a sincere and affable host. Before the inter- view, he courteously introduced us to his dis- tinguished wife, Dofia Flor Chalbaud de Pérez Jiménez, also surprisingly natural. Her achieve- ments in the field of social work, which have won for her just recognition in and outside Venezuela, nor her position as First Lady of the Republic, have interfered in her role of a house- wife. At home she assumes the responsibilities inherent in her triple condition of loving daught- er, deserving wife and devoted mother, besides sharing the problems and heartbreaks of all Ve- nezuelan homes. Simplicity and Originality The President starts the interview with re- flections of a more or less general nature. With- out missing a single word he says, we look around those. halls of unbelievable simplicity. Our dis- eee tinguished host, perhaps understanding the sur- prise of the newspaperman, explains: “living the way I do, surrounded by the unadorned simplicity of home, is no sacrifice for me; on the contrary, it would be uncomfortable to change this environ- ment in which I have lived during my life as a soldier.” The interview thus takes form. Our purpose, as we have said before, is to hear from the President himself an explanation of some paragraphs of his inaugural speech at the X Inter- American Conference; paragraphs that are k phrased and that express the ve tion of Colonel Marcos Pérez Jiménez try to interpret them —especially with re. their future repercussions— yet the truth is that the words of the President are centered on ideolo- gical aspec the skill that only he himself could y speeches, bad or good, are my own wi , Says the President with proud I hate and avoid more every day the s of stamping my actions as Chief Executive with the effects left by a carbon paper.” Right away he picks up some notes written by the newspaperman which are no less than the following paragraph of his already mentioned inaugural address before the X Inter-American Conference: The National Ideal “On our part, we the Venezuelans are de- termined to achieve the objectives of a National Ideal through the reasonable transformation of the physical environment and the moral, intel- lectual and material advancement of the people of our country. We are overcoming a long period of stagnation; we are reviving the faith that animated the Venezuelans to actions which have won for us recognition and prestige in America; we are organizing and strengthening our econ- omy; raising our living standards, and implement- ing democracy through a system ba: d on the principles of equality for a better fed, better educated and better oriented population; a sov- ereignty expressed in the selection of a form of Government in accordance with our circumstances and not subjected to philosophical doctrines that do not apply universally; a system in which the leaders, backed by their capability and honesty, lead the masses, and not one where the latter try to supplant the leaders; of respectful observ- ance of the constitutional establishments of nationality and of due consideration of high ranking superiors based on merit, investiture or discharge of duties; of labor as the supreme source of wealth, prosperity and dignity; of a balanced society that assures the harmonious community of its members, of its ideas and be- liefs, of liberty for those not plotting against equality, sovereignty, order, work or social har- mony nor working to upset the purpose to make Venezuela a worthy, strong and prosperous Nation”, The President reads aloud all the above concepts and then, with absolute conviction, ex- plains them almost word by word. “Everything I say here is the result of my personal observa- tion and my sincere devotion as a Venezuelan. The National Ideal I mention represents the aspirations of all good Venezuelans who now are on the road of self-recovery, from which they emerge with the desire and the determination to advance morally and intellectually and to improve the physical medium into an adequate setting where our people can live free from economic pressures and, above all, with the spiritual tranquility produced by the satisfaction of knowing that through their efforts they are bringing to reality our ultimate goal.” There is no doubt that Col. Pérez Jiménez dedicated much time to study his speech before the X Inter-Amer- ican Conference. He knew well that he was ad- dressing to the Venezuelans in as well as outside Venezuela and to the Americas as a whole. “Many of the concepts expressed”, he added, “have to be necessarily interpreted on the basis of Ve- nezuelan precedents. To talk about reviving the faith is the counteracting element against the “manguareo”, the term used by our national conglomerate to classify the demagoguery of the group that falsely pretended concern for the well-being of the Nation.” To mention examples he talks about projects that were never carried out simply because the “manguareo” prevailed: roads repaired during the day with equipment that at night was used to open new cracks. “And all this,” he continues, “the consequence of an unpatriotic attempt to squander national funds in absurd manipulations of a party maintained on false, dangerous and irresponsible complacen- cies”. After adding other explanatory statements, he refers with satisfaction to the favorable re- action of the Venezuelan public to the system of order and work. “The worker knows that no longer he gets paid to attend political rallies regularly for the purpose of hearing fiery de- magogical allocutions, but that he does get material compensation and participates in the completion of a job that is: OUR COUNTRY”. In a frank interpretation of democracy, he says that it being a system of such trascendence in man’s life, it necessarily has different modes of ap- plication which must be in consonance with the environment: “we Venezuelans recognize the right of equal opportunity for all and precisely because of our temperament we like to participate in everyday efforts for advancement. In order to make a fair judgment of many of the reactions of our people, it is good to know that the Vene- zuelan has always preferred to be an imperfect original rather than a good exact copy.” The Armed Forces and the Mystic of Government The President is fast in his thinking even though he conveys his thoughts with a rather delightful slowness. His energetic exposition of ideas prevails to the end and he thus proceeds to cover his favorite subjects; the Mystic of the Armed Forces and the Mystic of the Government. About the first he talks with deep professional pride. “The Armed Forces constitute a guarantee of Venezuela's wealth. Each soldier represents a disciplined conscience at the service of the country. To make him excel in the field of tech- nical skill, to raige his social standards, to provide the best care for his health, are obligations that I most willingly have accepted in my capacity as Commander-in-Chief. The Armed Forces Club Building constitutes a whole chapter of great significance in the sense of justice for the officer who sacrifices everything for life in the barracks. The fact that the State offer him the opportunity to spiritual expansion within his social level, is nothing else than a well deserved compensation. Besides the magnificent Armed Forces’ Club Building we also have the War College and the 1,000 bed Armed Forces’ Hospital. I, who had the satisfaction of siudying in the war college of another sister Republic (Peru) —the President says— could not understand why my comrades in arms did not have the same opportunity in my own country. To me, as Commander-in-Chief, the knowledge that the Armed Forces are pro- gressing in their cultural standards is encourag- ing. It refurbishes the Venezuelan conception of the Armed Forces. When promoting these prog- rams my mind wanders back to my days as a Lieutenant, when I longed for a better education but could not afford it because of lacking means at the reach of the officer. Today, that period remains vivid in my mind and in my opinion the best critic of Col. Pérez Jiménez is no other than Lt. Pérez Jiménez”. The President tells of the ups and downs that the Armed Forces went through before establish- ing their reputation. His words betray the strong emotions which he himself must have felt in his struggles on behalf of the country and the Armed Forces. “In an effort to destroy Venezuela, an attempt was made to liquidate our Armed Forces. The coups of October 1945 and November 1948 were no less than movements inspired in loyalty and devotion towards the country and aimed at at true and effective recovery of a population long bled through demagogical programs”, Wast- ing no time and as if associating one thing with the other, the President talks about the Govern- ment: “I know we cannot do it in one day, but we will proceed with the certainty of obtaining a far more effective service for Venezuela from each and all its citizens. To the fulfillment of this. objective I dedicate my attention everyday within the limits of my time. That way I can transmit my ideas to my collaborators who see that they are implemented”, Col. Pérez Jiménez recently announced a re- organization program that the Government has under way and he talks about it with much ac- curacy. It is evident that while talking he mental- ly reads a synoptic picture engraved in his mind, which contemplates among other important in- novations, the immediate future creation of a Ministry of Presidency that will act as a Consult- ing Agency of the Executive Branch. The reor- ganization of the different Ministerial offices is a result of his personal study and it will in all probability be carried out under the personal supervision of the President himself, who plan- ned it. “Reorganizations are just like speeches, they have to be interpreted by the author him- self. The work involved, of course, is immense, but the achievement of the National Ideal is worth it and together with the personal effort demanded by a reorganization there is my satis- faction of fulfilling a task with the patriotic feeling of a citizen and the discipline of a soldier.” Looking Forward to the VI Pan American Highway Congress The conversation is now channeled to the highway program that President Pérez Jiménez has put through. He certainly believes that the communication between cities is a fundamental assurance of the future. The President is a firm advocate of progress. “To me it is a source of personal gratification to know that the date of the VI Pan American Highway Congress is near- ing. Highway development in Venezuela is one of the most important chapters of my Administra- tion and we will proudly present our achieve- ments in that field to the delegates attending the Congress.”” Mentally the President transports himself through highways, bridges, airports and ports, and he does it with astounding coordina- tion. “We will advance to the limit and will do everything possible to offer the highway author- ities of America who will visit us the opportunity to get acquainted not only with the works but with the reasons that gave impulse to the con- struction of each and every one of them. Let's take, for example, the Caracas-La Guaira Super- highway: to me it means little that each kilometer represents an approximate expenditure of 14 mil- lion bolivares. The important thing is to know that such expense was made to connect the Capital city with its port of supply; that once done it meant cheaper transportation costs for consumption goods for the Venezuelan public. A distance of 36 ks. was reduced to 18 Ks.; besi- des, 266 extremely dangerous and nerve wreck- ing curves were eliminated. This means that fig- ures indicating that the lungs of over 60% of the truck drivers making the run between Caracas- La Guaira suffered damaging effects will neces- sarily have to come down considerably, now that the deadly curves that for years claimed their health and lives have disappeared...” On this subject the President talks most categorically, adding: “When I think of a Venezuelan lung —damaged by tuberculosis only because an adequate road is needed— then I ask myself: what does it mean to spend 14 million bolivares per kilometer when it. brings about a reduction in the cost of living and the health of a driver, the head of a Venezuelan household, is safe- guarded?” We can deduct by the Chief Executive's ex- pression that the VI Pan American Highway Congress, technical meeting of the Organization of American States to be held under the sponsor- ship of the Ministry of Public Works, will have all his enthusiasm and support. To conclude, the President says: “My Government does not infend to show off with its accomplishments in the high- way field but to impress on others that they have been done to solve problems that demanded immediate solution but that were avoided through the years”. Reveres Bolivar's Memory President Pérez Jiménez reveres the memory of the Liberator and, of course, this assures his personal position and his Government’s view- point in the field of InterAmerican Affairs. “Si- mon Bolivar is a colossus in the Hemisphere and the Venezuelans, proud of his heritage, shall live and die upholding the banner that he planted on the high tops of the Andes”... Thus the President summarizes his policy. Comes From the Andes Each phrase coming from Col. Pérez Jimé- nez is accompanied by a cathegoric intonation and gesture which convince us that we stand in front of a man who bases his past, his present and his brilliant future on two facts: He was born in the Andes region, that privileged sector of Venezuela that is the expression of her whole existence and that is recognized as a source of very special teachings. In the political language of Venezuela, the term “Andean” is synonymous with “natural skill” which may be due, perhabs, to the combination of very high mountains and clear tropical skies... And as if this were not sufficient, we must refer to his background: A military career of many years of rigurous train- ing, with special dedication to his main line: the artillery. His background makes him accurate in his calculations. Each shot discharged by an “Andean” artilleryman has to clear mountains and great distances but will finally hit the target... The “Marquismo” More than 2% hours have been taken by that patriotic monologue —we shall call it —and the concepts gathered confirm the determination that is finding ground in the Venezuelan medium of today and of the future. In the popular language the programs are identified with laconie but ° permanent terms. Because it is easier for them, the people of Venezuela, to recognize and refer to Col. Marcos Pérez Jiménez’ efforts, have used his first name and called “MARQUISMO” what by all established rules should be “perezjime- nismo”. “MARQUISMO AT THE SERVICE OF THE NATIONAL IDEAL” is the unquestionable slogan of the Venezuela of the present and of the future. SS ee t _ The night has set in and we leave with the satisfaction produced by a pleasant and instruct- ive conference. Leaving Macuto in the familiar car, we enjoy the sight of a beautiful Venezuelan moon scattering rays over the mountains and reflecting on the Atlantic. Flying back over the Caribbean, the same body of water that separates Miami from La Guzmania, our Editor brings with him the impressions of this interesting exclusive interview that DIARIO LAS AMERICAS now transmits to its readers. A PROGRAM TO GUARANTEE INVESTMENTS The Foreign Operations Administration has undertaken to implement its program of guaran- tees for capital investments abroad. Government officials are particularly eager to interest Latin American nations in the object- ives and advantages of the program. Official circles have indicated that the prog- ram is one of a number of projects designed to create “an appropriate investment climate” which will probably be discussed at the inter-American economic conference in Rio this November. Up to now the Latin American countries have - shown little interest in the investment guarantees program, but officials believe that opinions will change when the program’s terms, usefulness and safeguards become known. Up to the present time the Foreign Operations Administration has signed contracts with private American business concerns, insuring them to the extent of $44,425,359 against currency convertibil- ity risks and $2,584,603 against expropriation risks. The insured concerns are located mainly in France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Turkey the United King- dom and Denmark. The investment guarantee program was set up by Congress under terms of the 1948 Mutual Secur- ity Act as a means of encouraging private Amer- ican capital to take part in foreign economic aid programs. The program started out by guarantee- ing investments against risks involving the \in- ability to convert foreign currency earnings into dollars. In 1950 the act was broadened in order to in- clude protection for capital against confiscation and expropriation risks. In 1951 Point Four countries not participating in the Marshall Aid Plan —most of the Latin American nations being included among such countries— were extended the benefits of the investment guarantee program. FOA officials who were interviewed cited various reasons to show that the program has particular economic significance for the Latin. American nations, even though they may not be interested in taking part in the program at this © time. The officials pointed out first of all that the guarantee contracts are subject to previous inter- governmental agreements and that as a conse- quence interested parties are exempted from the risk of further government intervention in the matter. The insured investor, however, must ex- haust legal resources of the country in which he is operating, so that any confiscation of his hold- ings is rendered ipso facto impossible. Secondly, in many cases the guarantee enables an American firm operating abroad to concen- trate equipment and technicians much faster than it could under other circumstances—sometimes requiring from 8 to 10 years. The FOA is receiving constant requests for information from American firms willing to in- vest capital abroad but which would prefer to do so in countries where the investment guarantee program is in effect. ‘ Lastly, if the European nations can attract American capital under terms of the guarantee program, while the Latin American nations don’t take part in it, the prospects of economic compe- tition between Europe and the Latin American nations is thereby increased. Many of the contracts signed with Euro nations include capital investments in territor| and colonies belonging to such countries which up to a certain point produce raw materials competing with those from Latin America. x The apparent indifference of the Latin Amer- ican nations to the program is attributable in part to their traditional repugnance toward contract-. ing international agreements in regard to issues as controversial as are those of confiscation and controvertibility which —as the Latin nations ‘see it— might lead to political complications.