Fireworks?

In the presence of the elegantly uniformed diplomatic corps and ecclesiastics, headed by crimson-calotted Santiago Luis Cardinal Copello, the 6th Ordinary Session of the Congress of the Argentine Republic was formally opened one afternoon last week by Vice-President-of-the-Nation-in-the -Exercise-of -the -Executive -Power Dr. Ramon S. (for nothing) Castillo. Fireworks had been predicted. Cucumber-cool Castillo popped not a single lady-cracker.

To listless, chatting Congressmen, the juridical-minded Acting President slowly, laboriously read his message. He stressed hemispheric solidarity, the blessings of peace--and Argentina's determination not to change its policy a tittle. Excerpts:

> "Our solidarity with the U.S. is founded on historico-geographical bases. ... [It] led us to issue the decree of Dec. 10, 1941, declaring that nation nonbelligerent. . . .

> "Amid a worldwide catastrophe that affects us all, we at least preserved the right to live in peace with nations, the supreme aspiration of all young countries, with no hates or bitterness or desires of conquests other than those achieved by honest labor."

From the Chamber of Deputies, however, fireworks were certain. The opposition plans an all-out fight against Argentina's detested state of siege (which Castillo announced would continue), plans to demand clarification of the country's foreign policy.* The opposition also proposed to contest Castillo's proposal to revise the already fraud-mocked Saenz Pena Electoral Law. The total was a fine pyrotechnic program.

Of whatever nature the fireworks displays, the Argentine people were not to be permitted either to ooh or to boo them. The police forbade newspapers not only to print or comment on Congress speeches on international questions or the state of siege, but even to print the fact that comment had been forbidden.

His speech delivered, Castillo returned to the Casa Rosada. Past faintly, politely clapping crowds, rolled the procession: a smart motorcycle escort, a vanguard of brass-helmeted, crimson horsetail-plumed Grenadiers of San Martin astride magnificent horses, Acting President Castillo in an elegant victoria, a rear-guard of more magnificently mounted Grenadiers. Trailing behind the cavalcade silently rolled the street-sweepers.

*Three days earlier, on Argentina's Independence Day, President Roosevelt wrote at length to ailing, inactive President Roberto Marcelino Ortiz, more briefly to Acting President Castillo. Fuehrer Adolf Hitler felicitated Castillo, snubbed Ortiz.

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