ARGENTINA: The Bird

For several weeks Pancho, the quick-tongued green parrot at Washington’s Pan American Union, had reviled an Argentine student named Victor Fernandez, who went there to bone up on Latin American literature. One day last week Pancho screamed: “You’re a beef-eating gaucho.” Fernandez, who had had enough from one parrot, got angry and threatened to kill the bird.

Pancho squawked in alarm, flew into the second-floor room where the Board was meeting. Some time later (so claimed Student Fernandez) Pancho reeled out of the window, screaming: “I prefer death. It stinks in there.”

The gallant bird had heard Argentina’s Washington Minister, Garcia Arias, reading his Government’s proposal for an inter-American meeting to discuss the Argentine problem: Argentina had always been a good boy; Argentina stood for harmony in the Americas. The speech lasted almost an hour.

Honduran Ambassador Julian R. Caceres presided. At his right sat Under Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius, known to the Latins for his toothy smile as El Hombre Diente—The Man Tooth. The Man Tooth listened to an interpreter repeat the Argentine proposal, smiled a tablewide smile. Caceres said copies of the proposal would be sent to home Governments. The members nodded, did not discuss the matter further. They re-elected Cordell Hull president of the Board and adjourned.

The Thing. Meanwhile excitement mounted in diplomatic circles. Argentina’s proposal was dubbed La Cosa (The Thing). Chancelleries stayed open. Ambassadors telephoned one another to ask how The Thing was going. It seemed to be going well. If Latin Americans have their way, there will be a conference—probably in Mexico City.

But Stettinius maintained State Department silence. For unless the U.S. delivers a hard kick at Argentina, she will lose face in Latin America. But to kick hard, the U.S. would have to apply economic sanctions. Great Britain, Argentina’s biggest customer, will definitely not follow the U.S. if sanctions are applied. The Pan American Union may keep a talking parrot, but by week’s end it was the State Department that was getting the bird.