Black v. White Bread

Over every coffee table--from the politicos' favorite Tupi-Namba cafe on Montevideo's palm-graced Plaza Independencia to the cafe in the Hotel Oriental in cattle-raising Treinta y Tres--the talk was of elections. On Nov. 24, Uruguayans would vote for everything from dog-catcher to President.

As usual, the complexities of a Uruguayan election were enough to make even a Frenchman's head swim. The predominant; Colorado (Red) Party--liberal, democratic, and international--was split into four groups, each with its own presidential aspirant. The leader of the Batllista faction, suntanned ex-farmer Tomas Berreta, 70, had the best chance to win. The Blanco (White) Party had dissidents, too, but for the moment they were united behind the presidential candidacy of tall, white-thatched Luis Alberto de Herrera, 73. Herrera, "last of the South American caudillos" ("chiefs"), had for 30 years given the Blancos their nationalistic, isolationist tone. Most of Herrera's support lay in the rocky-spined back country, where illiterates could recognize his familiar face on the illustrated ballots.

If the Colorados won, as they had for 80 years, Uruguay would continue its pro-U.S., pro-Hemisphere policies, its standoffish attitude toward Argentina. The Blancos would like to "unite with Peron for a political, economic and social revolution sweeping the entire American Continent." Naturally, Peron was aiding his friends. He had crimped wheat shipments so that Uruguayans ate black bread last week. The inference was obvious: vote Blanco and get white bread. To promote the idea. Peron had reportedly funneled into Uruguay 2,000 of his strong-arm boys.

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