i have just read a book by John Barnes about Eva Peron. Apparently, when Eva was planning her Rainbow Tour to Europe, the Argentinians let it be known that she would like to visit England. The Prime Minister, Clement Attlee agreed to this, and Evita was invited to tea with Mrs Attlee. However, she expected to stay in Buckingham Palace with the King and Queen, which the British government said was not appropriate, as it was not a state visit. Also, stories of Evita's past had circulated, and certain politicians queried whether a lady of such morals should be allowed to stay at the Palace. The British Press said that as she was the wife of a dictator, it would be innapropriate, and also claimed that her "party trick" was giving the Fascist salute.
In the event, Evita went to Switzerland instead, where her car was pelted with tomatoes, to Italy where there was a riot outside the Embassy where she was staying between the Communists and Fascists, to the Vatican. hwere she did not receive the award/ decoration that she had hoped, to Spain where she was a great success, and to France, where she drooped in the heat, but kept the models at a fashion house waiting for her to arrive before announcing she did not wish to see the clothes. It would seem the tour was only a qualified success.
