At Last

The U.S. finally recognized Bolivia last week, after six months of niggling delay. The revolutionary Government of President Gualberto Villarroel had long since done all that the State Department had requested. It had rounded up and deported some 80 high-placed Axis agents, had sent German and Jap diplomats home, had purged the Government of Axis sympathizers, had upped the export of tin and tungsten to the U.S.

The U.S. State Department had been deeply concerned about the spreading epidemic of revolts in South America. Too many friendly (if bad) governments were being replaced by military cliques that looked to Argentine for leadership. But the delay in recognizing Gualberto Villarroel's military clique long after it had turned its back on Argentine accomplished nothing but a notable further drain on the sinking reservoir of good will south of the Rio Grande.

When aging (72) Secretary of State Cordell Hull gave in to the Villarroel Government last week, Great Britain and 19 Latin American Governments promptly followed suit, for nearly all of them had been pressing the U.S. for this action for some months. The Argentines, who had happily recognized the Nazi-loaded Villarroel Government from the start, were presumably laughing up their diplomatic sleeves.

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