Evening star., 1937-12-07
Is 1t Fascisn

Is 1t Fascism!
In an address entitled The Need for
a Spirit of Tolerance in Inter American
Relationships" Undersecretary of State
Welles last night, before the Inter
American Center of George Washington
University, did the cause of pan-Ameri-
can good neighborliness a noteworthy
service. Declaring that "one of the most
salient principles of that policy in Wash
ington is to refrain from minding your
neighbor's business for him." the State
Departments seasoned specialist in Latin
American affairs pleads earnestly and
persuasively for more judicial attitude
in this country toward current events
in Brazil.
Mr.. Welles demonstrates that "a great
portion of the press and certain of our
statesmen INDUCED in snap judgments
Of the Vargas coup detat, by rushing to
the conclusion that the abrogation of
the existing constitution implies "a COM
plete departure from the democratic
traditions of the Western Hemisphere
developed in other portions of the world"
Opinions differ as to whether or not
1talo-German Fascism, in part or in
whole, in letter or in spirit, has actually
taken root at Rio de Janeiro. Time alone
can establish whether the Vargas usur-
patton, clothed in the guise of a cor
porative regime, is the real Mccoy, as
Mussolini and Hitler conduct their au-
tocracies, or if the Brazilian upheaval Is
merely reversion to the personal eau
dillo' dictatorship, so familiar phe-
nomenon in Latin America.
President Vargas vociferously rejects
the Fascist hallmark. He insists in par
ticular that Brazil will not join Euro
pean totalitarian fronts" and will main
tain its traditional relations Of friend
ship" with the United States. The Amer
ican people heartily welcome both as
surances. Uncle Sam never makes the
matter of other nations political eccen-
tricities the acid test for their eligibility
either to our diplomatic recognition or
our good will. Were our approval on
that score q condition precedent to
friendly intercourse, 1t is unlikely that
Communist Russia, Fascist Italy or Nazi
Germany, to mention only the worlds
principal relationships, would now be
basking in either the United States off,
cial or popular favor. Undersecretary
Welles is preaching to an America long
converted to the doctrine of live and
let live, so far as the principle of non-
interference in other peoples political
arrangements is concerned.
The brilliant Undersecretary does not
tread quite as secure ground in expos
tulating with the American press on
Its Interpretation of epochal events at
Rio. If these have not in fact trans
planted Fascism to South American soil.
they at least bear an amazingly close
resemblance to the ideologies enthroned
at Rome and Berlin. Absolute dicta-
torlal powers are now concentrated in
the President. He is declared to be the
supreme authority in the state" He
may suspend Congress and dictate laws
by decree. He controls machinery to
veto unpalatable Supreme Court find
ings. He has abolished political parties
and Federal, State and municipal legis-
latures. He will govern through a ma
tional economic council with merely
consultative functions and through Fed
eral commissioners. He may aspire to
reelection as often as he pleases and
nominate candidate to succeed him.
self. Only a week ago DR.. Vargas or
dered the ceremonial burning of ail the
fags of Brazil's hitherto twenty-five
autonomous states as spectacular evi-
dence OF the birth of sovereign central
lied power. About the same time, Min
lister of Justice Campos, author of the
new constitution, suggested that the
state of illiteracy among Brazils 45,000,-
600 inhabitants is such that they are
not fit for representative government
These seem to be indisputable facets
Of the new deal on the Amazon. They
hardly justify complaints that Ameri-
can commentators are either reckless
or hypercritical in calling Vargasian
spades, spades. Nor is the jubilation
In the Palazzo Venezia and the Wilhelm
strasse over democracy in the modern
manner" at Rio exactly an indication
that it runs counter to the concepts of
u Duce and Der Fuehrer.