The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-09-15
Friday, Sept. IS, 1861
BY Alice lsnsrd Tavors
tN.C.W.c. News Service

RIO DE JANERIO
Mounting opposition to
apparent coddling of
communists at home and
overtures to Red regimes
abroad lay behind the resig-
nation Of Brazil's former Pre-
sident Janio Qdadros in Aug
ust.
Immediate cause of the
ex-president's with avail
from office was a public
charge that he was seeking
dictatorial powers.
ALTHOUGH oUADRoS de-
clared he was against com
munism, Brazil's Bishops
warned against Red infiltra-
ton following his Inaugural
ton In January.
But there is some justice
to Quadros' plea that he re-
signed because he could not
carry out his plan for the ma
tion. An uncOOperative Con-
gress stood in his way.
When news of his resigna-
ton exploded upon Brazil,
many astute observers felt
that Quadros was unwilling
or unable to answer a public
accusation that he planned
to gain unrestricted power
over the nation.
The accusation came aug.
pa the night before Quadros
resigned.
IT CAME FROM Gov. Carlos
Lacerda of Guanabara State,
who helped bring Quadros to
the presidency. Lacerda de-
clared in a radiO-televisiOn
broadcast that QuadrOs was
preparing a coup" that would
soon clear the way for com
munist infiltration.
Lacerda said Qusdros' mini
star Of justice, Pedrosa D.
Horta, approached him TO win
his support and cooperation
in the plan. The governor,
alarmed, flew TO the new capt
tai at Brasilia to confront
Quadros. The president. said
Lacerda. refused to comment
except 10 say that he would
speak of the matter with him
within AS days.
Quadros' resignation occur
red seven years to the day
after Getulio Vargas resigned
from the presidency Of Brazil
and committed suicide. OBJ
servers recalled that LAGER
da was the man behind the
fall of Vargas.
1T WAS FURTHER report
ed that Quadros resigned
rather than see a congresslon-
al Investigation of charges
that his finance minister, Gle
mente Mariana, was plotting
to give him dictatorisl powers.
Public concern over Quad
ros' ambiguous foreign policy
had mounted prior TO his res
ipnation, He had started nego-
tiations for the diplomatic
recognition of Soviet Russia.
He had called the Cuban
revolution of Fidel Castro
lovely" He had sci machin-
cry in motion TO link Brazil
and Red China through trade
pacts.
He had invited Yugoslavia's
Red dictator. Josip Broz Tito,
to Brazil.
He had invited technicians
from Communist Hungary to
drill artesian wells in the
hunger-raeked northeast of
Brazil, a region ripe for agi-
tatlon.
TO CROWN ALL he had
personally bestowed Brazil's
highest decoration on the
Marxist financial organizer of
Cuba's revolutionary regime,
Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
Yet Quadros professed firm
opposition to communism dur
ing the campaign that brought
him to the presidency in Jan
uary Of this year. Even as
president he repeatedly warn
ed of the communist threat.
This has been interpreted
as an attempt to gain popular
support for any attempt Of
his to torpedo Congress and
attain dictatorial power.
But Quadros eoddled com
munists within Brazil, and this
is what worried many Brazil
ians most
HE SUPPORTED THE MA
TiokAL Students Union, a
major arm of the communists.
He gave it a subsidy of about
SIS 400 and made offices avail
able to it in the capital.
Che GuevaraS mother, the