Thirst Comes First

For years politicians have thought that criticizing Brazil's government oil monopoly, Petrobras. was a quick route to private life. But last week Sao Paulo's often demagogic Governor Janio Quadros--who wants the presidency in 1960--pointedly censured the ineffectual, foot-dragging state enterprise.

"This nationalism, and especially this statism, is a big farce and a big blackmail," he said at a conference with a dozen high-ranking fellow politicians. "If there were a plebiscite, Petrobras would be voted down in ten minutes--and by the workers themselves, once they were properly informed. If I were president, the first thing I would do would be to revise Petrobras."

The nationalists howled lustily, but Janio ignored them. The significance was that a shrewd and ambitious politician can now say out loud in Brazil that nationalism is better served by whatever means will get Brazil the petroleum the country thirsts for.

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