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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 23, 1982
PAGE 9
At the bottom of their hearts the Argentines have always suffered
the frustration of not being a great world power. In the 1900's
Argentina, after three decades of phenomenal growth, primarily
due to British capital, appeared briefly to match the United
States in power. These two [ countries ] were the focal points of
European immigration in the 19th century, the two promised lands.
Now this term of being a great power has re-emerged recently in
Argentina with President Leopoldo Galtieri's words that there
will be a new power in South America, and has presented himself
as the new Caesar. The combination of economic instability and
great national ambition have numerous historic precedents. The
two most important figures in recent history in this way have
been Hitler and Mussolini. And the British have already used the
term for General Galtieri as a "moth-eaten Mussolini."
Although this is somewhat a drastic view, it does offer some
interesting parallels.
Mussolini also attempted to unify the
populace and win popularity by marching off on military ventures.
And it wasn't enough to poison the Ethiopians with gas, but
[ un�lear wording] helped to continue and finally led to a world
war. Perhaps Galtieri is well aware of the pattern and, as men
tioned later, the "recuperation" of the Falklands is just the
beginning in General Galtieri's words.
Like Mussolini, Galtieri could be legitimizing his precarious
position with astonishing military feats•...It has been said that
Mussolini became a prisoner of his myth. In just a few weeks
Galtieri created his own myth--that of redeeming the unredeemed
land. In no way can he separate himself from this myth and unfor
tunately as history has shown was the case with Mussolini,
Hitler, and Napoleon, the prisoner of a military myth has to
continue warring.
Of course all of this is too early to show a definite pattern, but
these words also sound like the ones Churchill mentioned during
the 1930 's as he accurately predicted the future ventures of
Hitler. Without a doubt the present crisis in the South Atlantic
should make Chile pause and think. But we are not the only ones.
There have been other century-old aspirations of Argentina in the
region, like the control of both sides of the Panama and Uruguay
rivers••••
The distinguished people of Italy and Germany are witnesses of
what one war or a small group can lead a country to do, especially
under economic crises. To prevent the chaos of war from emerging
again and maintain Argentina as a civilized state, someone will
do a great service to put a stop to a man like Galtieri as soon as
possible.
British Influence Wanes, Russia Offers "Help"
The British also know the Argentines quite well. They know (as do the
Argentines down deep) that if it hadn't been for British capital as well as
the immigration of thousands of Britons (mainly Scots, Irish and Welsh) to
Argentina before the turn of the century, Argentina would never have
developed into a modern nation.