BRAZIL: Infamous Attempt

At Montes Claros in the state of Minas Geraes, Vice President Fernando Mello Vianna and a party of Conservative orators arrived to campaign for the coming Presidential elections (March I). Minas Geraes is a Democrat stronghold; the Conservative campaigners were greeted with a burst of gunfire from Democrat sympathizers. Five people were killed, 16 wounded, and Vice President Mello Vianna received three bullets in his neck. Wired Brazilian Minister of Justice Vianna do Castello: VIOLENCE WHICH HAS BEEN RIFE IN THE STATE OF MINAS GERAES SINCE LAST OCTOBER HAS NOW CULMINATED IN A SERIOUS POLITICAL INCIDENT. I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION.

Answered State President Antonio Carlos : A QUERY WILL BE OPENED AT BELLO HORIZONTE [Capital of Minas Geraes] IMMEDIATELY. HAVE PATIENCE.

Meanwhile, unaware of the niceties of attempted political assassination in Brazil, U. S. Ambassador Edwin V. Morgan sent a formal note to President Washington Luis Pereira de Souza of Brazil, offering congratulations "that the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mello Vianna, escaped from the infamous attempt against his life."