Soviet & Samba

Goateed, greying, ace Soviet diplomat Jacob Surits has a habit of popping up in key spots. He was at Geneva in 1939 when the League of Nations prepared to expel Russia for the war with Finland. As Soviet Ambassador to France in 1940, Surits was declared persona non grata for cabling home harsh criticism of "Anglo-French warmongers." Last week the U.S.S.R. had named him their first Ambassador to Brazil, where the Communists had rolled up an unexpected 600,000-odd votes in the recent elections.

By dispatching to Rio a longtime Bolshevist of Surits' standing, the Soviets had paid the respect due to big, rich Brazil's growing eminence in world affairs. Surits would probably keep a weather eye on the seven other Russian diplomatic missions in Latin America--much as late Soviet Ambassador Constantine Oumansky supposedly did in Mexico City.

Party for Prestes. Marking their burgeoning strength, the Communists last week staged a gay party. The occasion: the birthday of their senator-elect leader, smoldering, classic-browed Luis Carlos Prestes. At Communist headquarters by Rio's tree-shaded Flamengo Beach, party members popped firecrackers, chewed gristly, barbecued beef, drank guarana, a soft drink. While Prestes blew out the 48 candles on a 7-ft., 226-lb. cake decorated with a red hammer & sickle, guests sambaed to a socially significant new tune, "Milk, Meat & Bread."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.