As you so correctly state in the Commentary entitled "The U.S. Should Strengthen Its Science and Technology Links With Latin America" (The Scientist, Oct. 2, 1989, page 12), Latin America is indeed experiencing a prolonged economic crisis. However, we were not always so financially fragile; during the years when food production was one of the important sources of wealth, Argentina was rich.
We certainly don't share in that bounty now. Years of neglect in planning for our country's future have left us in a most difficult position. During the many years we were linked with Great Britain, we should have begun developing our industries as our European counterparts did. Instead, we imported industrial products while we were selling wheat and meat. This lasted until the end of World War II, when many industrial countries began to subsidize agriculture.
However, during those bountiful "good years," we produced many first-rate scientists and ...
