Oldal 2 [2]
OCR
Tad edt XeAel2e November 52 - page two vital question, as far as the United States are concerned. Their tim importahitons come from two main sources: Bolivia and South-East Asia, With the communist threat in the latter countries, the United States cannot afford losing control over the Bolivian productions With such huge interests involved, it is but logical to hear from all oteervers in Bolivia that the general situation and the position of the government is far from settled. From an economic and financial point of view, conditions in Bolivia are most difficult: the government is short in cash, the dollar is very expensiveg, foreign curreney needed for import is not given, except for certain friends of the regime, Even meat and butter are very difficult to find. Politically speaking, Bolivia is torn between opposing outside pressures and between fractions which, even inside the govermment, represent fundamentally different tendenciese Within Paz Estenssoro's goverrment, there is an all out right wing: menwho have nationalistic aims in view, but want them realized on 4 a Christian basis. One of these is the Minister of Finances, Guttierez Garnier who - backed by the majority of the government members = supports a policy of nationalization, but not without due compensations On the other side are the left-wing,of the MNR, supported by the labor unions. Although there is no legally admitted communistic party in Bolivia, labor union leaders do not hide their communistic sympathies and inspirations. The participation of two of their representatives - Mining Minister Lechin and Labor Minister Butron in the govermembh itself gives labor unions a strong position in the countryeese This is an important point to be watbhed: communists have no legal action of their own, but they have infiltrated in the wider national front and thus - under present circumstances - carry a much wider action than they could otherwise. Above all, they try to infhuence policies in a sense that would be harmful to US interests. Against thé protest of more moderate members in the government, it was the Bolivian Labor Central that demanded that no indemnification pe given to the owners of nationalized tin mines, It is also the force that opposes the poliegxes of the Finanee Minister, who wants in the economic interest of the country - to maintain the commercial ties and the exportation towards the United States and Great Britain. This deep-seated opposition does not remain within the govermment or betweeen government and Labor Unions alone. There are evident signs of unrest among Army officers, who, in Latin America, have always deciséve influence in public life and in possible forféeful changes of regime. Bolivia is thus opened to whatever sudden changes and coups might oceure It will be of utter importance to watch who Will remain the victor on the battle fields the US influences backing a “democratic govermment" and fighting Paz Estenssoro, or nationalésm represented by the actual President and his close alliance with the Argentine regime, The fate of Peronsim depends of the atcome of this vital struggle apound the control of Bolivia, the “barometer" of Latin America, The other point to watch is the settling of the problem of compensat: 43,
