Evening star., 1942-04-14
Brazil Is Educating
Her People Against
Fifth Co|umnists
D. |. P. Radio Section,
Conducted by Woman.
Is Chief Teacher
By ALLEN HADEN,

Is Chief eocher
BY ALLEN HADEN,
Foreign Correspondent of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 2 (Via
Clipper Brazil has become fifth
column conscious in a big way.
While the police have begun 10 ar
rest spies the government depart
ment of press and propaganda
ID. 7. P) has principal response
bility for educating the people
against Axis enemies within Brazil.
A sultry-eyed girl does her share
in this educational process as head
of the D. I. p. radio section. Idea
woman, director and script writer,
Ilka Labarthe, has responsibility for
monitoring Brazilian stations, pre-
pairing short-wave programs for the
several United States broadcasting
chains and regularly putting on the
air the 'Hora do Brasil"-the Bra
lillian hour-over all So radio sta
tions in this country.
1IlC 11OIh w oid1ll biICS w
bring together all Brazilians,"
Senhora Labarthe says. I'VE hardly
know anything about our country.
We have to get acquainted. Your
see-America-first campaigns filled
the purpose of getting the United
States to know itself. But you had
roads and railroads to see America
first. We haven't. So, for the time
being, Brazilians must learn about
themselves and each other-via
radio"
Has Daily Program.
The D. I. p. has for several years
maintained a daily program from
8 to 9 pm. dedicated to Brazil ex-
clusively, kind of social get
together of the air. Originating in
the D. I. P. studios in Rio, the pro-
gram goes by wire to nearby sta
tions and is simultaneously broad
cast on long and short waves. The
latter can be chat is, must be-
picked up by distant stations in the
north and south for rebroadcast
on standard frequencies. BY law,
all 96 Brazilian stations must broad
cast the "Hora do Brasil"
The night visited the D. I. P.
studios in Rio an all-Mendelssohn
program had to give way at the last
minute to more earthly matters. I'm
portant DEGREES signed by President
Getulio Vargas were read as well as
the days news. No lawmaker has
vet managed to make laws fascinat-
ing radio script. and the program
was generally pretty dull listening.
Music Helps Program.
Musical numbers sandwiching the
announcer's readings and making
the program more palatable were
led by Eleazar de Carvalho. This
young maestro, soft eyes framed in
huge bony sockets, looks like q kid,
but has already q couple of operas
to his credit, among them 'T1ra-
dentes," the story of BraziPs mar
tyr for independence.
Senhora Labarthe, impresario Of
the "Hora do Brasil" was almost
invisible behind vast rolltop desk
when I called at her Office. I almost
didn't find her at all, on account of
a neat Brazilian habit of using given
names rather than family names.
When I asked a dusky messenger
for "Senhora Ilka," was promptly
and correctly directed.
Once found. she introduced her
assistant, primarily responsible for
short-wave programs to the United
States-Miss Lila Cavalcanti. The
two girls eagerly. showed me sched-
ules, programs, ideas.
Folklore . Good Bet.
ITO bring Brazilians together"
says Senhora Labarthe, I'VE dedicate
an hour in turn to various parts Of
Brazil, 50 the rest can learn about
it. A program about Ceara Is really
for Santa Catharina, a story of
Goyaz Is directed at Bahia.
ITO catch attention, folklore Is
always good bet. Everybody likes
a fairy tale and our Brazil Is full of
legends"
Her interest in stories comes
easily. Married to young physi-
clan, Senhora Labarthe has some
sultry youthful poetry to her credit
and several children's books. "The
latter sell better" she laughed,
shaking her hair-do piled on top of
her forehead.
Her radio work for the D. I. P.
has made her personal writings lag
recently and may affect a special pet
-Brazil's first advice e-to-women pro-
gram which last winter drew 5000
fan letters. That's lot, she says,
when you consider no Brazilian,
male or female, writes letters unless
he absolutely can't help it.
Radios biggest job right now,
Senhora Labarte believes, Is to warn
Brazilians Of the fifth column. An
other d. I. p. oficial had said to
me: I'VE are educating the people
to the danger of the fifth column.
We want the people to be on guard,
but without violence. without riots"
He clucked morosely over the
disturbances q few weeks ago when
German stores and Offices were
wrecked in Rio, Recife, Curitiba and
other places, In protest at Naz sink
ings Of Brazilian ships.
Broadcast True Incident&
Senhora Labarthe's share in that
educational program is the promo
ton of "true experiences" programs
in dramatic sketches. She Is enlist
ing the cooperation Of the war and
navy departments and the police
to put on the air records Of actual
brushes with German and japanese
spies and saboteurs.
Radio is, first, entertainment"
she says. Nov we must use 1t also
for education" She admits, how
ever. that she will touch up the
scripts of military men and the po-
lice, II their educational value out
strips their entertainment.
Copyright, 1942. by Chicago Daily News.)