New Shirts?

Brazil's green-shirted fascists, the Integralistas, had tried and failed to topple the Getulio Vargas government with some bold gun play in and around the presidential palace. That was in 1938. Last week, in smashing, full-page ads in Rio's leading newspapers, a new, subdued Integralism announced its revival in modern (democratic) dress.

From his exile in Portugal, Fuehrer Plinio Salgado advised Brazilians that now, as always, the Integralists believe in universal suffrage. Pointing toward the Dec. 2 presidential elections, Salgado urged his followers to bore into the existing political parties, form strategic blocks.

Although Chief Salgado so far disclaims any intention of reforming what was once a militant political body, opponents saw that a Christian Democratic Party embodying Integralist principles was on the way. Instead of the old slogan, "God, Country and Family," Integralist leaders would shout, "Christ and the Nation." And the propaganda organ would be a new and well-named weekly, Reac,ao Brasileira (Brazilian Reaction), edited by Pedro Lafayette Rodrigues Pereira, one of the followers of Nazi-loving ex-Police Chief Felinto Muller.

Liberal Brazilians, frightened by the modern Integralismo, rushed to deny Salgado's claim that he was never undemocratic. As evidence, they dug up a 1934 article: "Integralism denies the efficiency of the vote, denies the democratic conception of 'citizen,' condemns universal suffrage."

Snapped Rio's Vanguarda: "The lying, hypocritical chicken thief. . . ."

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