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The president of Argentina used a broadcast to exonerate the political opposition of guilt in the recent uprisings
In a broadcast to-day which observers here considered to be the most conciliatory of his career, President Perón asked his friends and foes for a political truce and exonerated the political opposition of guilt in the recent uprisings. Replying to the President's speech, the executive committee of the Radical party, the principal Opposition group, declared in a statement that there "cannot be pacification without liberty."
The party would ask the Minister of Communication for the right to use the state radio network to reply to President Perón. Radicals would also call a public meeting to explain the conduct of the party which steadfastly maintained its decision to "ensure morality, liberty and democracy in the country."
The President appealed for "peaceful coexistence" between all the people of Argentina. It was his first national broadcast since he spoke to the people during the abortive revolt of 16 June, when naval and marine forces bombed Government House and his residence. Since the revolt, which followed by only a few hours his Government's excommunication by the Vatican, the President has been very much in the background while his Army leaders re-established peace in the country.
The President spoke from his office in Government House, where he attended to State business to-day for the first time since the insurrection. "Urgent State business prevented me from getting in touch with the people until to-day," he explained. The President declared that "a large number of lives were cut down by the criminal attempt," on his regime. He praised the anonymous heroes and said the stigma of the infamous crime" could never be wiped out, "but we have a lot to do and must go ahead."
It was clear that the political opposition parties "are anxious for order and legality." Leading politicians had already approached him and "we thank them for seeking peace and co-operation – we spent ten years preaching it."
Emphasising that "the country's supreme interest must come first," he appealed for coexistence between all Argentines, adding: "I feel sure our political opponents never wanted to do away with the economic and social victories achieved by the Perónistas. They may even improve them." No attempt would be made to make the Opposition accept Perónista doctrine.
During the President's long silence, the Ministers of the Interior, Education, Agriculture, and Transport have been replaced and many conciliatory Government moves have been made to repair his breach with the Roman Catholic authorities. Another significant dismissal was that to-day of Senor Raul Alejandro Apold from the Government press secretaryship, which he had held for the last six years. He was replaced by the editor of the weekly newspaper "El Hogan" Senor Leon Bouche.
[Perón was deposed in September 1955 and exiled from Argentina until 1973]
These archive extracts, compiled by the Guardian's research and information department, appear online daily at gu.com/fromthearchive
