A Parliament for Warriors

The only country in the hemisphere without at least a shadow parliament learned last week that it was going to get one--or the shadow of one. President Higinio Morinigo, Paraguay's dictator since 1940, announced that a Constituent Assembly would be elected by year's end. There might even be an opposition. Already the buff and pink mud walls of Asuncion were frescoed with the name of Colonel Rafael Franco (an ex-President who returned to Paraguay last month after the President opened concentration camp gates). Hammer-&-sickle were everywhere, for the Commies--all 300 of them--had spent each night since their recent liberation painting walls and sidewalks.

This was new medicine to Paraguayans, who were used to settling differences at home by revolution and abroad by war. In 1865 they took on Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil in a five-year battle royal that ended only because Paraguay's able-bodied male population shrank to 28,000. Eleven years ago Paraguay outpointed Bolivia in South America's last war, over the Chaco. Paraguayans still allot almost half their budget to the military, supply Buenos Aires with its toughest cops, ablest soccer players, and remain convinced that, should they choose to extend their ancient, river-bound domain (see map), they could do so in any direction.

Little but Lion hearted. But a fighting heart has not been enough. Today, despite occasional polygamy and a 70% illegitimacy rate, Paraguay's population is South America's smallest, barely a million, less than it was in 1865. Asuncion (pop. 172,400) is the only capital in the new world without a public water system. It has no fire department either. Army & Navy garrisons do the firefighting, with a chance for looting as special inducement.

Most Paraguayans are illiterate and speak the Indian tongue, Guarani. But the country counts eight daily newspapers, 13 radio stations, 17 movie theaters. In rural regions, entertainment includes dancing, chicken fighting, the drinking of cana (made from sugar cane), personal combat, general camaraderie. This program habitually starts at noon Saturday, ends at midnight Sunday.

Way of a Warrior. Like most Indian and warrior people, the Paraguayan dislikes work. He will cut down a tree, but his wife has to carry it home. He hates to garden, so subtropical Asuncion imports most of its vegetables. He makes an average $6 a year selling cotton, the hides of cattle, yerba mat e(for Argentina's tea-like national drink) and tannin from quebracho. Politics is pretty new to him, and the big talk of an alliance with Argentina in a bloque austral is outside his world. But if Argentines, or anybody else, get fresh, he is perfectly confident that with a few other Paraguayans he can take care of the situation.

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