T HE SUICIDE of Brazilian President Getulio Dornelles Vargas on the morning of August 24, 1954, shocked Brazil and the world, and had a profound influence on the Brazilian scene. This act of desperation was occasioned, at least in part, by the unfolding of events in Brazil, particularly during August, 1954. It was this fateful month in Brazilian history that saw the occurrence of the famous Toneleros'' case and the subsequent events leading to the deposition of Vargas and his extreme gesture. Although the present paper does not purport to be a political or historical analysis of Vargas' death, and of the background factors involved in it, a few points which may help clarify and give meaning to the description of events herein contained may be mentioned. One of these is the role of the army as a stabilizing and moderating force in the conffict among political factions, exercising its power to prevent extremism whether of the left or of the right, in an immature political system. In 1945 it had forced the end of the Vargas dictatorship, and in 1954 it applied the brakes to a strong trend toward a demagogic, mob-appeal socialism, or perhaps even communism. Among the factors which disturbed the conservative elements in the Brazilian political scene was Vargas' demagogic appeal to nationalistic sentiments, an appeal which he used to win the 1950 presidential election. This quasi-chauvinistic nationalism was implemented in 1952 by a decree placing restrictions on foreign investments and on the repatriation of profits, and in 1953 by the Petrobras bill, which established a government monopoly for the exploitation of petroleum
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May 1, 1964
J V D Saunders 
Open Access