FOR ALL the other excitements abroad, I cannot understand Why
our newspapers have paid so little attention to last week's Presidential elections in Brazil, in which the central figure Campaigned under the revealing nickname of Little Peron. Behind this there is a story of intrigue in the best South Ameri- can tradition. If Little Peron (Joao Goulart) should top the poll In the elections for the vice-presidency, which at the time of writing seems likely, the belief is widespread, a Brazilian friend tells me, that he will be prevented by the army chiefs from taking office. Joao Goulart was a protégé of Vargas, under Whom he was Labour Minister—and he has kept his grip on Vargas's Labour Party, which he has been accused of attempt- ing to remodel on Peronista lines. Just before the election an Investigation was opened into a charge that he had accepted smuggled arms from Perlin two years ago; the accusation has' evidently not affected his political popularity, but presumably it has strengthened the army's mistrust. If he is elected the army would probably resist not only his installation but also that of Juscelino Kubitschek, the Czech immigrant's son who by the middle of the week had established a commanding lead in the presidential poll. If, on the other hand, the vice-presi- dency were won by Milton Campos, an anti-Vargas Liberal who has been running Goulart fairly close, the army might be readier to uphold the election results. Brazil's hopes of political stability may well depend, therefore, on this vice- presidential race. The new rulers of the Argentine, already sufficiently vexed to have Perlin himself still on their doorstep, must be watching the race with more than ordinary interest
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