Down Per

Juan Peron would not control Uruguay. That was the decision of one million Uruguayans in this week's national elections (TIME, Nov. 25). Tomas Berreta, 70-year-old vineyardist, had easily defeated Luis Alberto de Herrera, crusty pro-Peron nationalist and archenemy of continental solidarity with the U.S. It was more than a squeak-through: in the count Berreta took an early lead, led Herrera in a ratio of three to two.

New President Berreta, who would take office on March 1, had had a first taste of political brimstone back in 1903-04. As a patrol leader, he skirmished on the side of famed Liberal Jose Batlle y Ordonez in Uruguay's great civil war, was captured by the rebels and almost executed. As a Batlle follower in the Colorado Party, Berreta contributed to the hardheaded progressiveness that has characterized Uruguay for the past 40 years.

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