CHILE: Morales Shuffles Out

Just as President Juan Antonio Rios made ready this week for his long-delayed trip to the U.S., he was confronted by a sudden Cabinet crisis. The usually cautious Chief Executive acted swiftly. He reshuffled his Government, canceled his visit to the North—and reassured the Americas that these changes would not alter Chile’s anti-Axis foreign policy.

The trouble could be traced to President Rios’ cousin, counselor and close friend, Interior Minister Raul Morales Beltrami, who would automatically become acting president during the President’s absence. Dr. Morales’ ambition and aggressive youth (36) had rubbed many of his colleagues the wrong way. Feeling against him mounted over the prospect that he would run the country temporarily.

In reorganizing his Cabinet, President Rios dropped cousin Morales, but not without bitter words for “politicians” who “occupy their time frustrating” public officials. To the Interior Ministry he appointed the Commander in Chief and Director General of the Chilean Navy, pro-Allied Vice Admiral Julio Allard

Pinto. To the next important portfolio, Defense, he assigned equally pro-Allied General Oscar Escudero Otarola, Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army. Thus in the new Chilean Government the military gained strongly at the expense of the politicians.