It Has Been Commonly stated for almost two centuries now that the reason why the celebrated Mexican Jesuit, Francisco Javier Clavigero, was unable to publish the Spanish original of his Storia antica del Messico (Ancient History of Mexico) in Madrid stemmed from the savage attack made on the Italian edition by a highly nationalistic Spanish Jesuit, Ramón Diosdado Caballero, who considered it highly insulting and injurious to Spain and who urged the Spanish Government not to allow its publication until the author publicly retracted his damaging statements. That his bitter criticism prevented immediate publication there is no doubt, but on the basis of newly gathered evidence in Spanish and Roman archives, it is by no means clear that it was the ultimate cause for its not appearing.

The Industrial trade association movement in Argentina is split into two rival organizations: the Argentine Industrial Union (U. I. A., and the Confederation of Industry (C. I.), a component of the General Economic Confederation (C. G. E.). The U. I. A. represents primarily Buenos Aires interests, the C. I./C. G. E. (hereafter the Confederation) primarily industrialists of interior provinces. As such the schism between the two reflects political and economic divisions which have characterized Argentina since the nation originally freed itself from the Spanish crown.

This study traces the historical background of hostility between the U. I. A. and the Confederation to determine whether the split is as irreparable as both sides claim. Has the future of the Argentine industrial sector been foreclosed by polemics arising from the nation’s peronista past?

In Editing The Bandeirantes, The Historical Role of the Brazilian Pathfinders, Richard M. Morse points out that on many points of interpretation neither the readings he has presented “nor the whole of bandeirante history can furnish conclusive answers.” He states that “although the chronology and geography of the bandeiras have by now been fairly well pieced together by scholars, most other aspects of their history still lie open to speculation.” He concludes with a statement from a Brazilian source: “In spite of the fruitful results of research in this century, the study of bandeirismo as the combined process of political, economic and social evolution of the colony has not yet been attempted.” While thinking over Professor Morse’s introductory comments it occured to me that a careful review of all available facts concerning the seventeenth century Paulista, Domingos Jorge Velho, might contribute a useful piece in the challenging, historic puzzle.

Is it possible for two reputable and assumedly authoritative sources like the Congressional Record and Statutes at Large to contain mutually contradictory evidence as to whether the President of the United States approved or failed to approve a particular act of Congress? It could happen, obviously. It did in one instance, in fact, to the continuing confusion of students and scholars alike, who seemingly have been unaware of the discrepancy.