Two Speeches/June 11th, 1940

by Getúlio Vargas

Speech of President Vargas aboard the Flagship “Minas Gerais” on “Navy Day”, June 11th, 1940.

 

THE significance of June 11 is far greater than that of a naval victory. It recalls the greatest feat of our Navy, a symbol of national might at sea and of the dedication of Brazilian seamen to the glory and greatness of their country. The causes that led us to that extraordinary event have disappeared; antagonisms no longer exist in the Continent, we are linked by ties of strict solidarity to all the American countries, in the same ideals and desires and in the common interest of our defense.

That which remains to this day, is the everlasting and immortal motto of Admiral Barroso, Brazil expects everyone to do his duty.

The heroic sentence, which is now the motto of our Navy, has never been more vibrant than today. I am certain that no Brazilian would hesitate before this admonition, and that all will defend, vigilantly and serenely, the posts assigned to them.

We and all mankind are going through a historical moment of grave consequences, arising from a sudden and violent change in values. We are marching towards a future that will be different from anything we have ever known in the domain of economic, social or political organization, and we feel that the old systems and antiquated formulas have begun to declive.

It is not however, as pessimists and stubborn conservatives claim, the end of civilization, but is the vigorous and fruitful beginning of a new era. An energetic people, eager for life, must follow the course of its aspirations, instead of remaining in contemplation of all that collapses and falls in ruins. It is necessary, therefore, to understand our era and to remove the dead ideas and barren ideals.

Balanced economy no longer stands for the monopoly of the comforts and benefits of civilization by privileged classes.

Wealth no longer remains the product of capital without creative energy to develop further capital: it is a constructive force erecting everlasting monuments, transforming individuals and things, enlarging the aims of mankind even with the sacrifice of the individual. That is why the State must assume the obligation of organizing its productive forces in order to give to the people, all that is necessary for their greatness as a collective group. It would not be able to accomplish it however, with the sole objective of insuring benefits, exaggerated or limited only to groups whose prosperity is based on the exploitation of the majority. The rights of these groups deserve respect, however, provided they remain within just and reasonable bounds.

The misunderstanding of these forms of intercourse, the inadaptability to new situations, cause in the pessimist, the ill-fated Cassandra of all times, an unfounded discouragement that leads him to somber prognostications and ruinous prophecies.

Relative difficulties appear to him in their fearful aspect of irremediable crisis; the temporary loss of markets assumes the physiognomy of a veritable catastrophe.

A fair examination of the facts, leads to a different interpretation. If there are markets closed to the sale of our products as a consequence of the war, there is, in compensation, a retention of our savings which formerly went in exchange for the articles with which they supplied us. That which results, in the final analysis, is an increase in national production, with the country striving to be self-sufficient, at least as long as the present impediments to foreign trade exist.

The Government acts not only with the purpose of developing internal trade, but also of negotiating agreements with creditor nations with the end in view of paying the service of our foreign debts in commodities, reducing these debts on a basis of their exchange values. We are creating industries and promoting the development of raw materials with the purpose of exporting them transformed into industrial products.

In order to accelerate the rhythm of these activities, the sacrifice of some comfort is necessary, a virile disposition to save must be manifest in order to build up a strong Nation.

In the period through which we are now passing, only peoples hardened in struggle and strengthened with a spirit of sacrifice can be capable of facing and overcoming the hardships which confront them.

Political ordainment no longer is made in the shadow of the vague rhetorical humanitarianism which claims to eliminate frontiers and to create an international society, with no peculiarities or frictions, united and brotherly, enjoying peace as a natural good, and not as a day by day conquest.

Instead of this panorama of equilibrium and fair distribution of the world՚s riches, we see the clash of nationalisms, strong nations imposing themselves through an organization based upon the sentiment of the fatherland, sustained by the conviction of their superiority. This is no longer the era of improvident liberalisms, of sterile demagogies, of useless personalities and breeders of disorder. Political democracy is being replaced by an economic democracy, in which the Government, directly emanating from the people, and instituted for the defense of their interests, organizes Labor, the source of national greatness and not the means for, nor the path towards private fortunes. There is no longer a place for regimes founded upon privileges and distinctions; there can only exist those which incorporate the entire nation in the same duties and offer, equitably, social justice and opportunities to all in the struggle for life.

Political discipline must be based upon social justice, protecting labor and the laborer, in order that the latter no longer be considered a negative value, a pariah of the community, hostile or indifferent to the society in which he is living.

Only thus will it be possible to constitute a cohesive national nucleus, capable of opposing the agents of disorder and the fomenters of dissolution. It is necessary that the proletariat participate in all public activities as an indispensable element of social cooperation. The order of things created by new circumstances that guide the nations, is incompatible with individualism, at least when this individualism is opposed to the collective interests. The new order does not tolerate rights that superimpose themselves over duty to the country.

Fortunately, in Brazil, we have created a regime adequate for our needs, without imitating others or being affiliated with any current doctrines and existing ideologies. Il is a regime of order and of peace of Brazilian origin, in accordance with the character and the tradition of our people, capable of giving a more rapid impulse to the general progress and insuring the security of all.

Fighting for the expansion and the strengthening of our general economy as an instrument for achieving the greatness of the country and not as an individual aim; relying upon the good will and the spirit of sacrifice of all Brazilians, we shall more speedily reach a level of technical and cultural preparedness that will insure us the exploitation of the potential riches of our territory, for the purpose of common defense.

In the commemoration of this glorious date, I see an ideal opportunity to point out to the Brazilian people, the path which we must follow and follow vigorously.

The complete equipment of our armed forces is a necessity which the entire nation understands and supports. No sacrifice would be too great to achieve such a lofty and patriotic aim, The willingness of the people is equalled by the zeal of the military classes. And the present activity of the Navy, following a period of sadness and stagnation, is the best example of what willpower can do, of what faith in one՚s destiny can do if it is alive with the fire of sound patriotism.

Firm in its discipline, strengthened by the hope of better days, the Brazilian Navy, faithful to the fulfillment of its duty, renews itself, rises anew with the determination that ennobles men and institutions. The roar of its plants where the instruments of our defense are being forged — the ships that sail the rivers and oceans, or the airplanes that fly over our coast — fills with joy and contentment, the hearts devoted to the love of country. To the small units that have already been constructed, will succeed others, larger and more numerous, and to the monitors and minesweepers of today, will be added the more powerful destroyers and cruisers of the near future.

Without vacillation, the Navy transforms itself and with it our renewed enthusiasm, increasing our vigor and our courage to work for Brazil.