Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-16

flames of nationalism and whipping
against the United States.
That is taking place in count
ton with us always has been shin
ing tradition. Brazil's cooperation
reached it's climax in World War II
when she took her stand squarely
on the side of the United States
In the long fight against Nazi sub
marines in the Atlantic Brazil was
host and ally to thousands of our
soldiers, sailors and flyers. A Bra
lillian expeditionary forced served
with Gen. Mark Clark's armies in
Italy.
Cordial sentiments toward us
still prevail ansbng high officials
diplomats and leading businessmen
of the vast South American nation
But beyond the banquets, cocktail
parties and select functions OF the
upper rungs of social and official
life in Rio and Sac Paulo, there is
q wholly different attitude. The
man in the street not only has be-
come a vociferous nationalist, but
Unfortunately fond of Yankee i'm
perialism" and Yankee encroach-
ment on Brazilian sovereignty" as
topics of discussion. ~
Business Scrutinized
United States business firms had
always found Brazil one of The
easiest Latin American countries in
which to operate. but today enter
prise is meeting with more and
more antagonism and resistance.
Foreign concerns, large or small, are
subjected to strict labor laws gov
erning the employment of foreign
technicians and experts. Three
fourths of all employees in every
business establishment must be ma
tive Brazilians. This does not mean
three-fourths Of employees as a
whole, but three-fourths Of those
in every individual category, from
janitor to general manager.
The larger foreign companies, and
especially United States firms, have
become objects of severe scrutiny by
Government bureaucrats and petty
officials. Ways and means are
sought to impose new and arbitrary
interpretations of laws and regula-
lions which are severe enough as
they are. Frequent and exorbitant
fines are assessed against pilots of
planes, captains Of steamships and
the operators of other foreign Or
CARNATIONS and agencies for what
the bureaucrats consider to be Sc
rious attractions Of laws and regu-
lations.
The armed forces, and particu-
larry the air force, is where nation
alization has become particularly
pronounced. Many Brazilian f1iers
were trained in the United States
during the ware and Immediately
after it, yet they are now sharply
critical of United States aviation
techniques and methods. Even the
casual visitor from the United
States senses q marked GOODNESS
when he enters a shop in Rio, rides
q taxi or walks into an airline or
steamship agency. The traditional
Brazilian warmth and courtesy be-
comes subdued when he Is identified
as an American.
Naturally, not all Of these anti
foreign and nationalistic manifes-
tations are directly due to Commu-
mist influence and propaganda, but
those that are not still play into
the hands of the Communists.
, Reds Driven Underground
The Communist potential in
Brazil Is not a matter of guess work.
Until recently, when it was banned
as political organization, the Com
munist Party of Brazil was the
largest in the Western Hemisphere.
In the presidential elections of 1945
it polled nearly 100000 votes and
elected one senator and IA members
of the Chamber of Deputies. In
state and congressional election two
years later it won 100000 votes, and
elected three more congressman for
a total of II members in the lower
house. Moreover, it elected 10 OF
the so members of the City Council
of Rio de Janeiro and helped to
elect eight state governors and 60
state assemblymen.
Outlawing of the Communist
Party organization in Brazil and
throwing Communists out of office
did not end the movement there
it merely drove it underground.
Many observers hold that the Party
Is now more dangerous than ever
before. AS longsas it was out in the
open, it could be dealt with accord
ingly, and its officials and members
could be held legally responsible
for their actions. Now they operate
even more clandestinely than before
through front" and transmission
belt" organizations A token of
their continued effectiveness was
the recent Rio Doce Valley Devel-
opment strike, which, it was alleged,
was unanswered into being by the
Communists to slow down iron ore
shipments 20 tie United States.
The nationalistic feeling which
the Communists are helping to TO-
ment must have its whipping boy,
of course, and foreign enterprises
are better suited to this purpose
than any local or native concern,
especially if they happeA to repre-
sent the nation which is the great
est rival of Soviet, Russia. At any
rate, the fact remains that the
Yankees are being painted the for
eign devils of Brazil.