Help in a Hurry

Teodoro Moscoso, the Puerto Rican who bosses President Kennedy's Alliance for Progress, flew south to Brazil three weeks ago in search of a little progress. By the time he reached Natal, capital of the drought-plagued Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, Moscoso had made up his mind on one thing: Brazil needed help in a hurry and its national government was so bogged down in political crisis that state and regional agencies were his best bet. Last week, after a conference with Rio Grande do Norte Governor Aluizio Alves, Moscoso signed an agreement promising an immediate $50.3 million in U.S. aid plus enough U.S. technicians to make sure the projects succeed.

The deal set a pattern for direct aid between the U.S. and a Brazilian state, and it represents quite a victory for Rio Grande's ambitious and aggressive Governor Alves. In his 19 months in office, Alves has drawn up plans to provide food, water, road and schools for his impoverished state. He lacked money. Nearly all U.S. aid for the northeast went to the federal government's SUDENE (Superintendency of Northeast Development), whose aim was long-range development. On a visit to Washington last month, Alves argued that he needed help right now; his starving people were easy prey for the militant, Communist-led Peasant Leagues sweeping Brazil's northeastern states. Returning home, Alves visited President Joao Goulart, eventually won his agreement to bypass federal channels. Moscoso himself was convinced after a few days in the impoverished backlands. Said Alves "We are starting a new era."

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