The Washington times., 1937-11-17
Chaos Over Brazil

= may be the first symptoms of fascsm in America.
Occurring in country tradonally the friend of the
United States a country which has given
ships when we were attacked this is a situation
worthy of careful and patient study.
The facts are complex. There u.s. first of ALL Getulo
Vargas President of Brazil and the who has
cited two hemspheres over the threat of German and
Italian foothods in South
Will Mix With Anyone Ar,orioa
@1''" 11''7'' Vargas is reported to be
an ron-fisted dictator Yet in Brazil his nickname is
"Chu-chu," vegetable which will take the taste of
most of the food with which is cooked He gets the
name because he is the most consummate of politicians
will mix with anyone and anything, has the knack of
making the northern states mix with the south.
He is very simple man. Every morning he walks
part way to his office, stops to chat with people he
meets along the way. There no question of his popu
larity in Brazil
Chief factor behind his sudden kicking out of the
Brazilian constitution was similar to that which might
motivate Roosevelt to seek third term-potcs and
personal ambition.
Vargas had picked his own candidate Jose America,
in the election scheduled for January and up until
few months ago, America figured winner.
After an operation on his eyes, however, he took a
sudden turn to the lef began calling himself the new
Messiah of Brazil, and alienaed conservative votes.
Those whom he alienated joined the Integrastas
or Fascists whose strength has been increasing Partly
to head them off, partly to block the candidate from
the powerful state of Sac Pauo (which Vargas,
sonal ambition he kicked the constitutional traces.
In doing so he knocked out the first fatering steps
which Brazil had taken toward real democracy. The
constitution which he proposes is iron-cad in
~, srument with all the earmarks of
a Fascist dictatorship. It does
D"''"'O' 0''P not at all fit the character of the
mildmannered Vargas.
AS far as can be gathered, there excuse for
this constitution. Brazians romantic tempera-
mental, peaceloving people, who do not require gov
ernmental straitjackets. Such constitution, pro-
posed at time when President Roosevelt trying
to stem the tide of relationships and just year after
the two men had stood together in Rio de Janero pro-
claiming their common front for democracy, was the
hardest blow Brazil could have given her traditional
friend
Latin American revolutions are understandable and
to be expected but ironcad constitutions of the pro-
posed Brazilian variety something else again.
The old constitution now to be thrown overheard was
written in part by Vargas close friend, Oswaldo
Aranha, Brazilian Ambassador to Washington.
This is the freest bill of rights Brazil has lived
under When it promul gated, women threw their
around Aranha the Streets His wife used to
complain that he returned home covered with rouge.
The who wrote that constitution now faces a
difficult parting of the ways. great friend of Vargas
he has the chance the hand, of going back to
"A D;ff;ou1t rLo;oo Brazil and becoming president
For Aranha u 'ne ne" leuer'l council OF ol
remaining here as Ambassador
On the other hand, he desert Vargas altogether
and fight for the liberty which he set up in the constu
ton his friend now would outlaw
1t is not an easy choice So close is Aranha to his
President that he personally is paying young Vargas
expenses at Johns Hopkins. Vargas wife and daughter