Dictator Strikes

For months the opposition in Brazil had been getting louder, bolder. There was talk of an underground political party, the National Democratic Union (TIME, Jan. i). Brazilians wondered, hopefully: was their Dictator Getulio Vargas growing old and gentle? The answer was No.

Last week through the censorship leaked the news that five important democratic leaders had been suddenly arrested, and imprisoned incommunicado in barracks of the military police. Most important of the prisoners: Virgilio de Mello Franco, who had helped put Vargas in power in 1930. Two others were leading editors of pro-democratic newspapers.

Still at large last week was Oswaldo Aranha, Brazil's great, pro-democratic foreign minister, who was driven from office last August by the Dictator's militarist henchmen. Still in command of his forces was popular Air General Eduardo Gomes, reputed presidential candidate of the underground opposition.

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