Evening star., 1924-07-18

War exists in Brazil, but for what
cause, under what leaders or with
| what prospect of victory is a great
mystery. 1t broke out on July 5, APP
parently without warning, and the
rebels are reported as in possession
OF the capital of the most impor-
| tant state, a city of 100000 population
Sac Paulo.
Brazil is larger than Canada and
| four times as populous. 1t is greater
IN area by 250,0OO square miles, than
the United States, exclusive of Alas
ka, and about so per cent greater
than Russia in Europe.
If the world were deprived of Bra
lillian coffee, it would miss its break
fast. indeed, for that country pro-
duces so per cent of all the world
coffee, although coffee is not indi-
genous to America, but originated in
Absyinnia There are said to be
5O,O0O,000 coffee trees now growing
in Brazil-eQuivaleht to seven trees
for every inhabitant of the United
States of America-yet practically all
are grown in two of the twenty
states. The exporting of coffee is CON
trolled by the government, socialls-
tically, and all passes through the
the insurrectionists.
X
The Brazilian embassy in Washing
ton indicates no more knowledge as
to the cause of the present uprising
than what is disclosed in press dis
patches-which is nothing. Our De-
partments of State and Commerce are
also in complete ignorance. since an
effective censorship-whether by the
known-has stopped all communica-
ton. Newspaper correspondents are
forbidden entry. Thirty million popu-
lation are thereby cut off from the
world. and the fact that war Is rag
ing behind a curtain of mystery puts
Brazil conspicuously into today's in
tereSt. Speculation is rife as to the
possibilities of secession of some of
the states. The federal army is re-
ported to be hesitating TO lombard
Sac Paulo. lest more damage be done
to the loyal citizens than to the rebels
now in possession of the city. The
President of the State of Sac Paulo.
has fed. after refusing an offer of
leadership of the rebellion.
y X X 4
Brazil is essentially an agricul
tural country. In addition to
coffee, it has great productivity of
sugar and rubber Wheat is becom-
ing an important crop, as are also
corn and beans. Owing to its
diversity of altitude, there is scarce
ly a staple crop that will not
| thrive somewhere in that country of
possibilities undeveloped. Live stock
raising is already extensive. The
mountains are rich in gold, silver
and diamonds.
The total exports in 1921 were
s147, ,530,940, and in 1922. s100.435.
1913. Imports in 1921. Sl2S,146,345; in
1922. only s22,33O.440. Hence, with a
trade balance persistently in her
favor, Brazil is progressing rapidly
in prosperity.
With her great eXpanseS of inland
territory, sparsely settled and un-
developed, there is great inequality
of conditions according to locality.
for all the we'll developed regions are
on the seacoast. The country inland
s a vast plain or plateau. crossed
by rivers so large that our Mis-
sissippi is dwarfed in comparison.
One explanation Of the present up
rising is reported jealousy of the
! rich and populous states of sac Paulo
and Bahia, which are said to pay
most of the federal taxes, and object
to the expenditure OF so large ap-
preparations of federal funds for the
development of the inland states.
Yet, since all federal income is de-