Good Neighbors

It was a far cry from the unfortunate Baltimore affair.* U.S. sailors and marines, well briefed on good-neighborly conduct, went over big with Chileans at last week's presidential inauguration. At outdoor parties and at the huge fiesta in Santiago's Plaza Bulnes, sailors smiled at senoritas. In Valparaiso, a U.S. gob took up a blind beggar's guitar, played it to a huge audience for two hours, turned over a mendicant's fortune to the beggar.

At the Moneda, Chile's White House, lively new President Gabriel Gonzalez Videla gave a big dance and reception. Invitations read "tails and decorations." Gonzalez Videla's old ambassadorial friend from Vichy, Admiral William D. Leahy, the vice presidents from Argentina, Peru and Brazil all turned up in their best bibs & tuckers.

The carrier Leyte took Chilean navy and air force personnel and local newspapermen to sea on a one-day maneuver. "Just like a Hollywood movie," exclaimed an openmouthed Chilean admiral, as bright-sweatered flight crews directed speedy takeoffs.

Chile's new President enjoyed the military trappings, announced that he was all for keeping the fireworks--abroad. Questioned about the U.S. Army-sponsored Hemispheric Defense Plan (TIME, June 24). Gonzalez Videla said: "The armaments race has been one of the bad factors in Latin America. . . . We are too poor to bear the load and [we] need the money to raise [our] standard of living. As a Chilean and ... an American, I am, frankly, an enemy of over-arming."

* In 1891 sailors from the visiting U.S. cruiser Baltimore tangled with Chileans in Valparaiso harbor. Two Americans were killed, several injured, but in Chilean legend the story grew into a Yonqui affront to national honor.

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