Evening star., 1937-11-21
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.

w YHAT factors determined
A Getulio Vargas to adopt the
" totalitarian form Of gov
ernment for Brazil has not
yet been determined. Whatever they
may be, they have caused considerable
worry in Washington.
Whether 1t was frances sweeping
victories in Spain - developments
watched more closely in South Amer
lea than anywhere else-or the grow
ing power of the nations which have
accepted the dictatorship form of
government; or the lamentable weak
ness Of the democratic powers, as IL
lustrated once more at Brussels; or the
realization that the 100000 Italians
and the 100000 Germans living in
Brazil could force the issue and choose
a fuhrer, is really immaterial.
The cold fact is that one Of the
leading South American republics.
which for decades had the most cor
dial and intimate relations with this
country, has abandoned liberalism for
autocracy.
Vargas Encourages U. S.
Administration leaders tried to min
imize the effect of Vargas action and
took heart from his statements to our
Ambassador at Rio that this was
purely internal affair which would not
in any way alter the friendly relations
between the two countries. A further
wave Of optimism swept the State De-
partment at his cool reception Of rep
resentatives of the triple alliance,
Germany. Italy and Japan, who rushed
to him and suggested that Brazil join
the crusade against communism. The
German 1talian-Japanese pact is open
to all who want to enter it, and the
three relationships hope that large
number Of states will see their way
clear to do so as soon as they get
rid Of the obsolete forms Of the old
liberalism: Elections, parliamentary
control and limited tenure of Office
for the head Of the state.
The Fascist tendencies in several
South American states have been
known to the administration ever
since the beginning Of the civil war
in Spain. One of the reasons for the
Buenos Aires conference last year was
an attempt on the part of this Govern
ment to Offset these tendencies. And
Mr.. Roosevelt personally attended in
the hope OF giving the South Ameri-
cans an opportunity to hear rather
than see the leader Of the greatest
democracy in the Western Hemi-
sphere.
germs. 1t is in the cards that Bra
zils example will be followed within
reasonably short space of time by
other countries. Ever since South
America become a continent with in
dependent republics. personal corps
detat have been no less frequent than
elections in the United States. But
these local relationships were prompt
ed by ambitious politicians who did
not want to part with power. 1t was
q policy Of spoils rather than q poll
tical philosophy.
Constitution Barred Reelection.
The situation in Brazil today is dif-
ferent. Getulio Vargas is the type Of
chief executive who believes that no
body else can carry on the reform
which he has started. Since the con-
stitution Of Brazil would not permit
him to stand for reelection, he took
the short cut and instead of amend
ing the constitution he simply ig-
nored its existence.
But besides the personal motives of
Vargas there are more serious consid-
erations. There are some 100000
Germans, 100000 Italians and 30O,-
900 japanese settlers in Brazil. These
people play a prominent part in the
political and economic life of the
country. Unlike the Germans and the
Italians Of the United States, they are
deeply attached to the mother coun-
try and almost blindly obey the in
structions they receive from Berlin
and Rome
Vargas knew he was headed for
trouble If he did not play the Fascist
Nazi game at the next elections. In
the meantime. there is fairly strong
Communist element which would have
played an important role at the next
polls. There may have been trouble
between the two factions and Var
gas was worried not only that he
might be defeated, but that the coun-
try would become the battlefield be-
tween these factions, supported in
each case by alien governments.
Argentine Stopped Ship Deal.
Last summer, the Brazilian govern
ment requested from the Government
Of the United States the loan of six
or eight destroyers to strengthen the
obsolete Brazilian navy. Washing
ton appeared willing to oblige Brazil,
but the arrangement was postponed
because of the objections raised by
the Argentine republic.
That the President Of Brazil had
no intention then of accepting the
tutelage of the European dictator
ships was evident from the conf
dental letter Secretary Hull wrote
the chairman Of the Naval Affairs
Committee in the Senate, Senator
David I. Walsh. In that letter the