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> El Salvador has a good democratic-reformist government, is prospering, gets powerful U.S. support and aid.
> Guatemala's President Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes was ousted by a military junta last spring. Despite the fact that Ydigoras is a long and fervent foe of Communism, the junta saw the possibility that Communists would take over in approaching elections. The new government got quick U.S. recognition and now, with free elections promised, is promoting a string of democratic reforms.
> Haiti's murderous Dictator François ("Papa Doc") Duvalier survived efforts, applauded by the U.S., to overthrow him last spring, looked on with stony satisfaction last month when the U.S. quietly resumed full diplomatic relations. His country is poverty-stricken and in a state of chaos.
> Honduras is run by a junta that took over in a barracks-room coup last October. The U.S. severed relations and cut off aid money, then restored it all after a promise of free elections.
> Mexico's democratic President Adolfo López Mateos is one of the U.S.'s warmest friends, and since last year's settlement of the century-old dispute over the Chamizal border strip (negotiated by Tom Mann while ambassador to Mexico), the friendship has never been warmer. But Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with Cuba and is neutral in the U.S.-Cuba conflict.
> Nicaragua, although it has an elected President, is run by the U.S.-inclined Somoza family, which owns outright a great part of the nation.
> Paraguay's "elected" Dictator Alfre do Stroessner has instituted some democratic reforms—under U.S. urging—and seems to be a reliable friend.
> Peru elected a liberal government last summer, after a military junta had ruled for a year. The U.S. is leary of the possibility that Peruvians may want to nationalize some of the rich oil industry now owned by U.S. companies.
> Uruguay's middle-roading nine-man governing council is on the best of terms with the U.S.
> Venezuela's powerful President Rómulo Betancourt, one of the U.S.'s finest friends, steps out of power this year. He will be replaced by Raúl Leoni, who was elected last fall despite vicious terrorist tactics of Castro Communists. Venezuela is one of Latin America's most progressive democratic countries, but the U.S. is worried that Leoni may prove to be not so strong as Betancourt.
Speaking in Tex-Mex. From this turmoil of differing governments, personalities, politics, ethics and economies, Tom Mann will try to produce a viable set of policies for U.S. action and reaction in the months ahead. A solid (5 ft. 10 in., 180 Ibs.), firm-jawed man who likes to call himself "a country lawyer from Texas," he has spent his entire lifetime in dealings, both personal and professional, with Latin America.