LATIN AMERICAN LINE-UP

Argentina. A notable record of democratic advance was broken by the 1943 army revolution that brought Peron to power. Re-elected in 1951, Dictator Peron, with his wife, runs Latin America's only big-time totalitarian regime.

Bolivia. In this backward, one-crop (tin) republic, 3,200,000 inhabitants (of whom only 130,000 vote) endured their 179th revolution last week (see opposite page).

Brazil. The world's largest republic, Portuguese-speaking Brazil is qualitatively different from its neighbors. Its long history of peaceful evolution toward democracy was broken only by Getulio Vargas' 1930-45 dictatorship. In 1950, Vargas made a startling comeback at the polls, has since governed constitutionally.

Chile. This temperate-zone republic, inhabited by energetic, business-minded people, practices a highly developed democracy of the French permanent cabinet-crisis type. Now suffering from acute inflation.

Colombia. Sixty years of exemplary constitutional progress ended in the bloody 1948 Bogota uprising. Since November 1949, a conservative regime has ruled by state of siege, and undeclared civil war has cost an estimated 20,000 lives.

Costa Rica. A rustic democracy fit to gladden Thomas Jefferson's heart.

Dominican Republic. Since 1930, the personal plantation of Dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo.

Ecuador. After four Presidents in eleven months, Galo Plaza Lasso, a U.S.-born democrat, was chosen President by orderly elections in 1948. Chances are 50-50 that he can survive until August, his term's end.

El Salvador. Following a 1948 revolution, Lieut. Colonel Oscar Osorio, the local Strong Man, beat out an army rival for President at the first universal suffrage election ever held in this little republic of coffee and volcanoes.

Guatemala. Communists have got a foot in the door of this last survivor of the Caribbean's postwar left-wing regimes. Though an army man, Guatemala's President Arbenz has not been at all rough on the Reds.

Haiti. This beautiful, tragic, impoverished Negro republic has had practically no democratic experience; it is currently ruled by Paul Magloire, an elected President who originally seized power as army Strong Man.

Honduras. The classic banana republic. After a longtime dictator stepped down in 1948, Juan Manuel Galvez, a United Fruit Co. lawyer of the comfortable, old-shoe type won the presidency in an uncontested vote.

Mexico. Its notable stability and expansive vigor may be due to the fact that it has emerged from the only true revolution ever to occur in Latin America. It is about as democratic as a one-party country can get, though probably a long way from the point where one party can peaceably yield power to another at the polls. Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, the official government candidate, appears set to succeed President Miguel Aleman in the July elections.

Nicaragua. The personal property of Dictator "Tacho" Somoza, a far more amiable character than his pal Trujillo.

Panama. Having made or broken four Presidents, Panama's Strong Man "Chichi" Remon expects to be elected to the presidency himself next month.

Paraguay. Rough, remote, army-ridden, ruled by Dr. Federico Chaves, influenced by Peron's Argentina.

Peru. A military dictator, General Manuel Odria, elected President without opposition after having outlawed the majority party, runs the country in alliance with landed oligarchs.

Uruguay. Model democracy, remodeled last month with a Swiss-type rotating-chairman presidency.

Venezuela. Despite fabulous oil-boom wealth, one of Latin America's most harshly governed countries. Four years after a three-man military junta seized power and outlawed the largest party, Venezuela remains, with Bolivia, the only republic in the hemisphere without a Parliament.

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