COUP IN BOLIVIA

Grey River Argus, 22 December 1943, Page 5

COUP IN BOLIVIA

New Government REACTION AGAINST U.S.A. INFLUENCES. LA PAZ (Bolivia), December 20. The National Revolutionary Party of Bolivia have carried out a coup. They arrested the President, Enrique Penaranda, two of his Ministers, and a number of Army officers, all of whom are held in communicado. The leader of the revolution is Senator Victor Paz Estenssoro. He was formerly Finance Minister of Bolivia. He took over the President’s palace. In a broadcast to the Bolivian people he said: “The work of iniquity has ended. The nation has ceased to be the personal property of the Penaranda-Rivera-Castillo family.” Interviewed, Senor Estenssoro declared that Bolivia will respect the Atlantic Charter and the other obligations. He added that the new Government does not alter Bolivia’s international position at the side of the United States. The new Bolivian Government includes the following: President: Major Gualberto Vallarroel; Minister of Foreign Affairs; Senor Jose Tamayo; Finance Minister: Senor Victor. PEstenssoro; Minister of the Interior: Major Alberto Taborga. A radio announcement said 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. The publication of all newspapers has been stopped. Soldiers are guarding the offices. RUGBY. December 20. Pending further information about Bolivian coup d’etat by which President Penaranda was overthrown in La Paz, comment in London is reserved. Among the leaders Senor Estenssoro, is known as a rising politician with strong Nationalist tendencies. The Associated Press stated he was arrested in 1941, in connection with an alleged attempted pro-Nazi movement. The Revolutionary Movement comprised soldiers and youth organisations. The object of the coup is not vet clear, but it is known .the movement is strongly opposed to United States policies.. Senor Penaranda, who is anti-Nazi, visited the United States last May. and was personally welcomed by Mr. Roosevelt. He became President in 1940. Bolivia broke off relations with the Axis Powers not long after the Japanese entry into the war, and became a full belligerent last Spring. Senor Penaranda’s declaration of war 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.

U.S.A. RECOGNITION

NOT YET DECIDED ON

(Rec. 10.40) NEW YORK, Dee. 20. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says: “Although Senor Estenssoro’s regime, apparently, has a leaning to Argentina, if not to th e Axis, it is not expected to affect materially. the . conduct of the war. Washington officials ex-plained that Bolivia’s principal importance is its tungsten mines, but said America at present possessed a huge surplus of tungsten in addition to a three years’ supply of tin. Moreover they said Senor Estenssoro could hardly afford to halt exports because the Bolivian Government obtains 80 per cent, or the revenue from export taxes on tin and tungsten. The Secretary of State, Senator Hull, refused to indicate at a press conference whether the United States will recognise Senor Estenssoro’s regime.