Evening star., 1942-03-13
BruziI on the Verqe

BroziI on the Verge
President Getulio Vargas vigorous
measures Of reprisal against Axis
sinkings of Brazilian shipping, cou-
| pied with the outbreak of violence
against Nazi merchants in Rio de
Janeiro, bring our great sister re-
public in the Southern Hemisphere
to the very verge of open warfare
against the Axis powers. The most
drastic official measure was an
amendment Of the Brazilian consti-
tuition empowering the government
to seize the property of nationals of
countries which commit acts of ag-
gression against Brazil or Brazilians.
The very next day, President Vargas
used his new authority by levying on
such property in accordance with the
size of individual or corporate hold
ingS, larger properties bearing the
brunt of the seizure. It is estimated
that the measure will affect more
than 500 Axis concerns, including
banks. Axis properties in Brazil are
so extensive that losses, actual or
prospective, caused by Axis depre-
dations can easily be indemnif1ed.
BY another constitutional amend
ment, President Vargas further pre-
pared for extreme action by en-
powering himself to declare a state
Of war without vote of Parliament.
In this connection, it should be un-
derstood that the President can act
with lightning speed because he has
possessed virtually dictatorial powers
ever since he abolished the old con-
stitution in his political coup of No
vember. 1887. He thus has free
hand to do as he sees ft, with no de-
lays due to legislative deliberation or
ratification.
If Brazil goes to war with the
Axis, as now seems highly probable,
it will be a case of history repeating
itself. In the World War of a gen.
Grafton ago, similar U-boat attacks
and sinkings of Brazilian ships were
the chief cause of Brazil's declara-
ton of war against Germany. The
present war has given rise to series
of U-boat attacks on Brazilian YES
sells, recent sinkings being more de-
liberate and fragrant. The Brazilian
government recognizes this by reply
ing with immediate reprisals. whereas
the earlier attacks were considered
as incidental and thus less provoca-
tive. So they were handled by the
ordinary diplomatic procedure of
formal protest and demand for in
demnity - which, incidentally, has
not been paid.
Axis U-boat outrages have been
anticipated ever since Brazil took
leading part at the American
Conference in Rio and broke diplo-
matte relations with the Axis powers.
German warnings of unpleasant
consequences were issued. But Brazil
has gone ahead with its policy of
hemisphere solidarity and co-opers-
ton with the United States.
Concurrently, the Brazilian gov
ernment has been taking strong pre-
ventive measures against possible
fifth-column activities within its bor-
ders. Heavy troop concentrations
have taken place in Brazil's southern
states, where a considerable percent
age of the population is Of German
or Italian origin. aggregating be-
tween 100000 and 100000. There
are also at least 100000 Japanese with
whom to reckon. This constitutes
a potential threat in case Of war with
the Axis. Yet the Brazilian govern
ment seems confident that the strict
precautions taken in the past few
months will suffice to keep the situa-
tion in hand. The country as a whole
Is alive to the danger, and President
Vargas obviously does not intend to
be caught mapping.