SOUTH AMERICA: Uruguay's Choice

In one of the most important elections in their country's history, 860,000 Uruguayans went to the polls this week to decide between democracy and Argentine-backed reactionaries, between neutrality and a pro-United Nations course. Overwhelmingly they chose democracy and the United Nations. As their new President they elected the candidate of President Alfredo Baldomir's Colorado Party, 61-year-old Lawyer Juan José de Amezaga, ex-Ambassador and League of Nations delegate. As Vice President: hemisphere-minded Foreign Minister Alberto Guani.

With this triumph over the Fascist-minded National (Blanco) Party, acceptance of a new Constitution drafted by President Baldomir seemed a certainty. It would replace the outworn Constitution promulgated eight years ago after a coup d'état by the late President Gabriel Terra, which gave minority parties a disproportionate voice in public affairs.