REBELS STAGE COUP IN BOLIVIA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1943, Page 3

REBELS STAGE COUP IN BOLIVIA

PRESIDENT ARRESTED Anti-U.S. Former Minister Leads Revolution . N.Z. Press Assocra-t-on—Copyright Rec. 10 a.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 20. A message from r,a Paz, capital and commercial centre of Bolivia, states that the National Revolutionary party carried out a coup and arrested the President of Bolivia, General Enrique Penaranda, two Cabinet Ministers and a number of Army officers, all of whom are being held in communicauo. The publication of ali newspapers has been stopped and soldiers are guarding the newspaper offices. The revolutionary leader, Victor Paz Estenssoro, has taken over the , Governor's Palace. The revolution- \ ary movement is comprised of solders and youth organisations. The object of the coup is not yet clear, but it is known that the movement is strongly opposed to United States policies. General Penaranda, who is antiNazi, visited the United States last May and was personally welcomed by President Roosevelt.

. Deaths in Gun Battle A radio announcement stated that a number of .persons were killed and wounded in a gun battle, which lasted four hours until a regiment of Federal police ceased resistance. Broadcasting to the people of Bolivia, the revolutionary leader, Senor Estenssoro, said: "The work of iniquity has ended. The nation has ceased to be the personal property of the Penaranda-Rivera-Castillo family." When interviewed, Senor Estenssoro declared that Bolivia will respect the Atlantic Charter and other obligations. He added that the setting up of a new Government does not alter Bolivia's international position at the side of the United Nations. The Associated Press points out that Senor Estenssoro, a former Finance Minister, was arrested in 1941 in connection with an alleged attempt to form a pro-Nazi movement. The new Bolivian Government includes the following: — President, Major Gualberto Vallarroel; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senor Jose Tamayo; Minister of Finance," Senor Estenssoro; Minister of the Interior, Major Alberto Taborga. London Comment Reserved Comment in London concerning the coup is reserved, states British Official WiVeless. Senor Estenssoro is known as a rising politician with strong Nationalist tendencies. Bolivia broke off relations with the Axis Powers not long after the entry of Japan into the war and became a full belligerent last spring. The declaration of war by the President, General Penaranda, was ratified at La Paz early this month. For several years Bolivia has been supplying the United Nations with large quantities of tin and other minerals.

General Penaranda has been President of Bolivia since his election in March, 1940. By a new Constitution adopted in 1938, executive power is vested in a President elected for four years by direct popular vote who is not eligible for reelection' until four years after his term has ended. In the event of his death or failure to assume office, the president of the Senate becomes President. The*-e is a Congress of two chambers, called the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, which meets annually in August at La Paz.