Jews in Argentina ‘uneasy’ over Government’s Toleration of Terroists

The DAIA, the central body of Argentine Jewry, today called an extraordinary session to discuss recent anti-Semitic attacks. At the same time it decided to warn public opinion that the attacks could spread out in chaos which might become uncontrollable.

The organization also decided to notify the authorities of the “profound uneasiness” among Jews because of the impunity from arrest and prosecution which was apparently enjoyed by terrorist bands in Argentina. DAIA leaders indicated that they were prepared to pose before national authorities, political parties and the people of Argentina generally the issue of how long the nation was prepared to accept the presence and activities of Nazi groups in Argentina as inevitable.

Francisco Manrique, candidate for Parliament for the Union del Pueblo Argentino party in the March 14 elections here, sharply criticized the Government today for failing to take action against the anti-Semitic terrorists who exchanged shots with police at Ezeiza Airport several weeks ago.

Recalling the complaints against terrorists voiced by the Government when they were in opposition, Mr. Manrique charged that the Government served now as accomplices” in the terrorist acts. “A Government that does not proceed against these delinquents is an accomplice,” he explained. He charged that if the authorities really wanted to, they could end the terrorism “instantly.” He demanded that the Government definitely liquidate such neo-Nazi organizations as the Tacuara instead of ineffectually banning them “in the gracious wordings of decrees.”

(The Argentine Ambassador to Canada, Ricardo H. Pueyrrendon, assured the Canadian Jewish Congress today that neither President Arturo U. Illia, nor the political party of which the president is a member, would tolerate anti-Semitism, and that all steps to suppress racism have been taken in Argentina.)