Body Politic

Chile's President Eduardo Frei is a Christian Democrat who came to office on a platform of sweeping social reform. He has turned out to be a reformer, all right, but of a kind that Chilenos had not quite expected. Seven months ago, he put a crimp in the national afternoon siesta by banning the three-hour lunch break. Then came a prohibition of movies after midnight and the closing of television stations at 11:45 p.m. "A nation that goes to bed late cannot work well the next day," the government explained.

Last month came a ruling that threatened another aspect of bedtime life in Chile. Amid charges of white slavery and dope peddling, Frei's Interior Ministry suddenly banned prostitution and told owners of nightclubs to take the beds out of the back rooms. This was going too far. No sooner had the order been issued than the madams of Santiago descended on the presidential palace in a mass-protest demonstration. They informed Under Secretary of the Interior Juan Hamilton that unless the ban was removed, they would organize into a sort of body politic to oppose the government at every turn. Furthermore, they pointed out, the closing of the houses would not keep their clients at home; prostitution would simply move under cover.

Giving in, the government flashed a temporary red light to enforcement officers, ordering that the edict take effect only against a few disreputable houses that employed minors or peddled dope. It was small solace for the trade. Complained one prostitute last week: "Attendance has fallen off. Clients fear they may land in jail." A madam with initiative--and style--was busy sending out notes to erstwhile customers: "I have the pleasure of informing you that I expect you at my house on Tocornal Street after 6 p.m. Bring a friend."

Whether the government would ever get around to the cleanup Frei wanted was anybody's guess. In any case, admitted the Interior Ministry, prostitution cannot be ended overnight.

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