The People Cheered

When a democratic nation scraps democratic processes, it may be because the machinery merely needs overhauling. Uruguay's trouble was a constitutional "reform" dreamed up in 1934 to keep the Government of revolutionary President Gabriel Terra from shaking apart. The new Constitution arbitrarily gave three of nine Cabinet posts and an equal division of Senators to the leading opposition party (provided, as invariably occurs, that the two leading parties together poll a majority). This law has been a thorn in the democratically elected Government of President Alfredo Baldomir.

Led by General Luis Alberto de Herrera, the oppositionists became obstructionists. Some were pro-Ally, some were pro-Axis (and were glad that nearby Argentina and Chile still maintained Axis relations), but all the Herreristas were anti-Baldomir. They used Uruguay's grant of air and naval bases to the U.S. as a political football. Last week, when Baldomir's supporters were dozing, they sneaked through the Senate a 10-to-6 vote censuring the Government policy of continental solidarity and hemisphere defense.

President Baldomir acted quickly. He dissolved Parliament, marched troops to danger points in Montevideo. He postponed the Presidential election scheduled for March 29. He announced that a Council of State would govern-and prepare a new reform to remedy the 1934 reform-until a plebiscite and the postponed Presidential election are held. He accepted Minister of War Julio A. Roletti's resignation because of "ill health," gave the post to Foreign Minister Alberto Guani "temporarily"--i.e., long enough for wise old Alberto Guani to make sure of the Army's loyalty.

Herreristas promptly charged that Baldomir was automatically out of office for "violating the Constitution." Trailed by a pickup crowd, they tried to force their way into the Congressional Hall. Barred by police, they shouted abuse until the police charged, injuring three Herreristas and two bystanders.

Throughout the rest of Uruguay the people remained calm. They raised few questions when President Baldomir explained over the radio that he had acted drastically because the Herreristas "wanted a government with a Nazi attitude." They accepted his statement that he would not run again for President. They-the white-collar and working classes, which form the main Government support-cheered when President Alfredo Baldomir pledged:

"Uruguay will comply faithfully and honorably with all obligations undertaken, especially in the field of inter-American solidarity."

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