Evening star., 1951-01-28

Is years OF almost undlSputed on
this time as the duly and popular
lie. And next Saturday is the o
carnival season.
Naturally, North America is more
interested at this moment in the
return of Vargas to the helm of
the Brazilian government than in
the most spectacular mardi gras
in the world. This nation of
so million people, the only Latin
American country ever to send
an army to fight with us on for
eign soil, becomes once again Cf
the utmost strategic and economic
Importance.
An Atlantic outpost in the fight
against Nazi and Fascist subma-
rines and sea raiders in World
War II, Brazil must now serve as
hemisphere bulwark against
Communist advances from Eu-
rope, the Mediterranean and
Africa. Also, as in the past war,
we shall need increasing quanti-
ties of it's critically necessary min
erals, metals and other raw ma
terials.
Events Related
But for Brazilians the resump-
ton of leadership by Vargas and
the opening of the carnival sea-
son in the same week have a
distinct and significant political
and social relationship. Both
Vargas and carnival are primarily
products of the people-the less
fortunate and underprivileged.
Large numbers of the middle
classes as we'll as small and large
businessmen voted for him. But
he owes his return to the official
scene largely to the man in the
street, the day laborer and the
white-collar worker. The vast
army of workers who championed
"Getulio," as he is afectionally
called by them, are waiting to
proclaim him.
Although Vargas was elected by
an overwhelming plurality of
more than a million and half
votes. he did not get clear-cut
majority over his three other op-
ponents. For this and other rea-
sons, his road to the presidency
has been one of the most difficult
any man in his country has ever
Travelled. AS one high official
frankly said, "It has not been a
road at all, but a tight rope" In
the election of October 3 he had
the bitter opposition not only Of
the Conservative die-hards, the
intellectuals and practically all
the big city press. but also some
members of the military hier-
archy, which unseated him five
years before.
For weeks following the elec-
ton there continued to be a
strong anti-Vargas movement,
waged by some of the most prom
inent people in Brazil A brother
of the Brazilian Ambassador in
Washington insisted that the for
mer ruler had not been elected,
because he had not received IAN
absolute majority of the ballots
cast" At least one member of
the Supreme Electoral Tribunal
agreed with this view.
Some high officials openly
hinted that Congress ought to
prevent his Inauguration. on the
grounds that he had once "vio-
lated the constitution" by dis
solving the Federal Legislature
and seizing authority. For a time
there were even some indications
that the military might step in
and annul the elections. At any
rate the Electoral Commission did
not get around to certifying his
victory until January 18, barely
two weeks before he was to be
sworn In.
Through all of this uncertainty
he has handled himself with con-
sumate political skill. He has kin
died no new controversial fires.
Not once has he spoken out in
condemnation of his critics. He
has shown no public resentment
toward any group or individual
who connived against him, or en-
gineered his previous official down.
fall. Even his bitterest opponents
have always agreed that he is the
cleverest politician the nation has
ever known. Because he has man.
aged to maneuver his way through
all the conflicting elements that
have opposed his return to official
life. many of them now grudgingly
admit that he has shown an
admirable degree of statesman
ship.
A number of his old adversaries,
including famed and ailing Gen.
Aurelio de Goes Monteiro, have
made their peace with him. Goes
Monteiro had helped to put him in