Argentina is a country of scars, and its history can be defined through moments. And if we talk about events that deeply marked the country We have to go back to 1929, when a global crisis occurred.
Crossed by economic, social and political problems, imperialist countries resorted to protectionist measures to be able to rebuild. What does Argentina have to do with all this? The crisis led many of these countries begin to dialogue with Latin Americain search of treaties and negotiations.
This international context led to Argentina Raw material prices would drop, thus harming the sale of meat, the main market in our country.. Likewise, prices of other goods on which we were dependent rose, such as coal.
Jose Felix Uriburupresident at that time, had to lead the country towards a prosperous future, although without success. Its adjustment policies, as well as the payment of the external debt, They caused early elections that resulted in the victory of Agustín Pedro Justo.
During this new management, Argentina suffered another blow to its beef market. In the Ottawa Conferencethe British Empire decided to give trade advantages to the member countries of the Commonwealth. In response, Justo responded with a delegation that went to London to try to reach an agreement outside the conference.
What did the Roca-Runciman pact consist of?
Thus, after several months of negotiations, the May 1, 1933 an agreement was signed between Argentine vice president Julio Roca and the head of the British Board of Trade Walter Runciman. That’s where the name came from. Roca-Runciman pactwhich included different commitments and concessions between the two countries.
On the one hand, Great Britain had to continue buying meat from Argentina for a volume similar to that of 1932.that is, around 390,000 tons, and could only reduce the volume if it reduced the same proportion of meat imports into its domains.
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However, Argentina had to do more than its share, as accepted that 85% of its meat exports be carried out by meatpackers of British originwhich only left a space of 15% for national work. Likewise, payments for purchases by the United Kingdom could enter once payments corresponding to the external debt have been made. Finally, there would be no increases in customs duties and there would be a commitment to purchase goods in quantities that they need.
Lisandro De La Torre, the toughest opponent of the pact
The pact did not go unnoticed. Yes ok there was support from the Rura Societyl, the vast majority opposed the negotiation. On the one hand, livestock breeders complained about stay out in the fridge schemeand the nationalist sectors criticized the government for responding to British interests rather than local ones.
However, the person who served as the main opponent was the progressive Democratic senator Lisandro De La Torrewho made a complaint that caused a lot of commotioneven after the pact. This caused the British meatpackers to hide evidence and documents of what was really happening: the Argentine meat trade was controlled by Armour, Anglo, Swift and Wilson, four British and American companies, which was possible due to corrupt armed groups in which There were local officials involved.
In 1935 (two years after the pact) The investigation by De La Torre was reportedwho at that time defended himself: “This is not, on the other hand, anything new in the attitude of the winterers addicted to the Executive Branch and the meat processing plants, but rather one more link in the chain of acts demonstrating that the Executive Branch of the Nation, from the president, consciously serve the interest of foreign meat processing plants to the detriment, above all, of small producers.
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The conflict continued to escalate until it involved Luis Duhau, Minister of Agriculture and supporter of the pactwho had to appear 13 days in a row in the Senate to respond to the accusations made by De La Torre. But everything took an unexpected turn, when On July 23 of the same year, a former police officer hired to assassinate De La Torre by mistake shot another senator, Enzo Bordabehere, who died hours later..
It was believed that Duhau had contacted the hitman to end the Santa Fe senator’s complaints.. Finally, he resigned from his position and secluded himself in a palace and continued working in his rooms.
Source: Ambito
