At Sea

Far beyond Brazil's tumult, the British freighter Uruguay Star churned placidly across the Atlantic, carrying ex-President Janio Quadros far away from the nation he impulsively left divided. Just ten months ago, at 43 (four months older than Jack Kennedy), Quadros had been elected president by the largest vote in Brazil's history. He set out on a bold program--financial austerity at home, an adventuresome neutralism abroad. Even though he played up to Moscow, and embraced Castro, the U.S. took a chance on him, offered to provide $943 million in aid. Similarly, he had his way at home--though there was increasing restiveness over his flirtation with Cuba. Always erratic, he proved thin-skinned.

Early last month Quadros stood in his office with a visiting publisher, pointed through the window at the round modern dome at the end of the Congress Building. "If I could tear that down, Brazil would be better governed," he said. Three weeks ago he told an aide that he had a good mind to resign when Congress, after allowing 19 Quadros vetoes to stand, overruled Veto No. 20. "He was furious," says the aide.

If Quadros hoped by resigning to raise a hue and cry in the streets to demand his return, free of chafing congressional restrictions, he misjudged his people. There was surprisingly little ruckus, and by the time he boarded the Uruguay Star in Santos, Brazil's eyes were on the chaos he had created. Only newsmen and a few curious bystanders stood at dockside to watch him go. Enigmatic and emotional as ever, he told the reporters, "They are forcing me out. I will return." As he mounted the gangplank and the lines were dropped, he shook with sobs.

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