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news
in the wake of today's WORLD EVENTS
•
Top European Assesses U. S.
"The United States is on the downward path and it
will be extremely difficult to save them from total collapse."
This is the startling assessment of Dutch-born Dr.
Sicco Mansholt, the new President of the European Eco–
nomic Community's Executive Commission. Dr. Mansholt,
63, made the statement in a letter addressed on February 9
to outgoing Commission Chief, Italy's Franco Maria Mal–
fatti. The outspoken Mansholt is considered a "strong man"
of the Common Market because of his sense of mission for
Europe in the modern world.
In the same letter, Mansholt observed that "it is be–
coming increasíngly evident that national governments are
no longer capable of ensuring the stable expansion of their
economies." He went on to discuss the "e\'en more serious"
threats of overpopulation, industrialization and pollution,
citing an elaborate study entitled
The Limits to Growth
prepared by the System Dynamics Group of the Massadm–
setts Institute of Technology.
Mansholt asserted that the strengthening of EEC in–
stitutions would enable it to conduct an effective policy in
these vital areas.
"If
Europe follows a well-defined policy,
it will be in a better positioo to iropose a policy on the
rest of the world as well, on the United States and Japan
in particular," he stated. Mansholt added that if Europe did
not follow a definite policy, the cause would be lost since
"the United States does not possess the necessary political
strength to guide the world towards the solutioo of this
major problem." Then came the brutally frank analysis that
the United States is headed for "total collapse." Mansholt's
conclusion: "Europe has a mission to accomplish
!"
Mansholt called for a "strictly planned economy" and
a "non-pollution system of production," and urged a major
research etfort toward orienting the economy to the "well–
being" and the "happiness of our people," instead of
toward the pursuit of maximum growth and the greatest
gross national product possible.
Ata news conference on March 27, Mansholt declared
that whether other nations de-emphasize economic growth
or not, Europe must set the example. He called GNP "the
Devil" and said that Europe must produce guidelines for
12
the future to ' 'overcome this diabolical growth" and con–
centrate on the "Gross National Happiness" of its people.
Mansholt's outspoken criticism of the United States
caused not a few ripples in Brussels, EEC headquarters.
His associates explain that total
f
rankness is part of Mans–
holt's character. Said one: "He has no secrets, but is com–
pletely open minded."
•
Argentina- Looking to Peron Again?
Against a backdrop of political crisis, economic chaos,
labor unrest, and mounting anti-government terrorism, the
way is being cleared for the return of former Argentine
Dictator Juan Domingo Peron, 76, to his native country
after nearly 17 years of exile.
Peron was ousted in a military coup in September 1955,
after nearly a decade of iron-fisted rule. Though Peron had
spent his country into bankruptcy (from which it has never
recovered), his extravagant social programs left an in–
delible mark on the hearts of the Argentine masses.
Throughout bis years of exile, Peron influenced políti–
ca! events in Argentina by sending statements to his fol–
lowers from his residence in Madrid. Peron, who created
powerful labor unions during his 10-year rule, remains
the hero of the Argentine working class - the "shirtless
ones" as he calls them. Today, Peronism maintains its
sway over a third or more of al! Argentine voters - the
Jargest single voting bloc in the country.
1t
is believed
that Peron and his
J11sticialis1a
Party would easily win any
election in Argentina.
Early in 1971, Argentine President
Lt.
Gen. Alejandro
Lanusse lifted a ban on political parties, permitting Peronist
groups to participate on equal terms with other parties.
Later, all criminal charges against Peron were dropped.
On April 7 of this year, the last legal obstacle
to
~t:•rutfs
return was removed when federal courts dismissed a long–
standing treason charge against him.
The Argentine government has given Peron the green
light to return, apparently believing that in the midst of
political and economic crisis, it is better to go Peronist than
Communist like Chile. Elections have been called for
March 1973 to end nearly 7 years of military rule.
PlAIN TRUTH
June
1972