Mr. Finch to Mr. May.

No. 507.]

Sir: A revolution in Paraguay, resulting in the deposition of President Aceval, was started in Asuncion on the morning of the 19th instant.

It was, as will be seen by the inclosed translation, a bloodless affair; but out of it grew a discussion in the Paraguay Congress which was followed by shooting, one person being killed and several wounded.

I inclose newspaper translations referring to the revolution and the shooting incident, and the alleged cause for the attack on the Government.

I also inclose copy of a letter of an American resident of Asuncion relative to the condition of the country, and giving some reason why the discontented ones dislike the deposed President.

Respectfully,

William R. Finch.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

[From the Montevideo Tribuna, January 11, 1902.]

The revolution in Paraguay—A complete chronicle.

Congress convoked—Violent scenes—Shots and stabs—Senator Insfran killed —Senators and deputies wounded—General Caballero’s wound—The artillery firing against congress—fifteen wounded—the new president—His cabinet.

We publish below dispatches received about the Paraguayan revolution which fully confirm the information advanced by La Tribuna Popular on the subject:

preliminaries.

Asuncion, January 10.

Yesterday at daybreak an unusual movement of people, coming and going from the Government house and its surroundings, was noticed in the city. Shortly after it was known that a revolutionary committee, composed of Generals Caballero and Escobar, Colonel Escurra, the minister of war and the minister of finance—Señor Moreno and Senator Fleitas—had been formed.

This committee, in its session of that night, had resolved to take possession of the situation, removing from the Government the inconvenience presented by the President, Dr. Emilio Aceval, and the ex-President, General Egusguiza.

[Page 1052]

the imprisonment of aceval.

Disposing of the forces of the cavalry regiment, a squad from that body was detached at 4 a.m., with the object of taking possession of President Aceval and demanding his resignation. This mission was fulfilled, but when he was asked to resign President Aceval refused to do so, and he was then informed that he must go to the cavalry barracks, where he would be kept a prisoner until the revolutionary committee decided what they would do with him.

This was carried into effect. In the meantime another squad from the same cavalry regiment, under the orders of officers acting for the minister of war, arrested the chief of police and certain military men whose friendship toward President Aceval and General Egusguiza was well known.

The comings and goings aroused the attention of the people, and General Egusfuiza was advised about what was occurring just as a group of soldiers, commanded y an officer, was on the way to his house with the purpose of arresting him. Eluding them, he went to the Argentine legation, where he was received by the minister, Senor Lauro Cabral, whom he informed about the events. General Egusguiza is still sheltering there.

While these events were occurring in the city, the revolutionary committee, in permanent session, addressed invitations to the Senators and Deputies of the same political opinion to call a meeting of Congress in order to deliberate about questions involved.

in the congress.

Overcoming the resistance made by some of the members of Congress and in opposition to others, a quorum was formed at 12.15 p.m. yesterday, the Vice-President of the Republic, Señor Hector Carvallo, who shares the political opinions of Generals Caballero and Escobar, being present as president of the Assembly.

At the opening of the session it was suggested that the rule of President Aceval should be declared at an end and the Vice-President, Senor Carvallo, given charge of the executive power. A numerous bar, totally composed of revolutionary elements, with their chiefs at the head, occupied the place destined for the public.

The proposition presented by Senator Fleitas was received by the public with enthusiastic manifestations of adhesion and loud cheers for the revolution and its chiefs.

After the address relative to the deposition of President Aceval, Senator Bogarin made a speech declaring that the motion was contrary to the text and spirit of the constitution; that Congress lacked the power to sanction that motion and could not in any case legalize the acts which the revolution had effected by violence.

The bar then protested against the orator, and Senator Bogarin, excitedly, and losing his presence of mind, expressed emphatic reproaches against the bar and the people, who abused their strength, using it to interrupt and insult independent legislators.

scenes of bloodshed.

Suddenly the sound of a shot was heard, and after the first shot numerous others followed, sounding as if a great bundle of rockets had been thrown into the center of the house. The confusion became terrible and insults multiplied and blood flowed, the men having lost their presence of mind in the excitement and fury of the struggle.

The firing of revolvers, the using of daggers, canes, throwing of chairs, and the exchange of blows transformed the house into confusion and chaos.

While this was occurring, General Escobar, going along the corridor, reached the balcony of the house of Congress which faces the plaza, and, taking his handkerchief, signaled to the commander of the troops which were stationed there.

The noise of the shots and the cries of the people caused General Escobar’s signal to be wrongly interpreted, and the commander ordered the infantry and artillery to open fire against the house of Congress. The firing by the infantry and the cries of the people, who asked that the firing cease against Congress, caused a panic among the inhabitants of the city, many of whom had come to witness events from the avenues and the plaza.

Meanwhile the wounded were being attended to and the dead taken up in the room of sessions.

Among the former was Senator Insfran, who had received three bullet wounds, Senators Corvalan and Fleitas, General Caballero and Deputy Carreras being gravely wounded.

Senator Bogarin, against whom the firing began, was slightly wounded, as were also some other representatives, shorthand writers, the brothers Perez, and other individuals not very well known.

In the street fifteen persons were wounded, some of whom will not recover.

[Page 1053]

the new cabinet.

After the house of Congress had been cleared and amid the greatest silence the dismissal of the President of the Republic, Dr. Emilio Aceval, was voted, and the Vice-President, Señor Hector Carvallo, was given charge of the Government. The new President, after going through the usual formalities, appointed the new cabinet, which was designated in the following form:

  • Minister of war, Col. J. A. Escurra.
  • Minister of the interior, Senator Eduardo Fleitas.
  • Minister of foreign affairs, Manuel Dominguez.
  • Minister of justice, José Trala.

The national departments and commercial houses have remained closed all day and all night, business in the port and custom-house having been suspended also.

During the afernoon and the night numerous patrols went along the principal streets and were stationed in the plazas. Groups were not permitted to form in the public thoroughfares.

in the argentine legation.

The Argentine minister, Dr. Lauro Cabral, the secretary of the legation, Dr. Carlos F. Burgos, and the consul attended the families of President Aceval, General Egusguiza, and of other officials who have sought asylum in the legation. As soon as the scenes of violence occurred the Argentine legation omitted no effort to avoid further bloodshed and, thanks to its good offices, lamentable catastrophies were not more numerous.

The secretary of the same legation, Dr. Burgos, together with the consul-general of France, Mr. A. E. de Livio, and the consul of Uruguay, Señor Silva y Autuna, got the revolutionary committee and the new President to allow President Aceval to be removed from his prison in the cavalry barracks to the house of the Argentine legation. This was done, the three persons above mentioned accompanying him in a carriage, surrounded by a force, friends and people.

Later on in the evening the secretary of the Argentine legation and the consuls accompanied the family of President Aceval to the house of the legation, where they are now united and protected from any emergency. It need not be said that the aspect of the legation house, with the numerous guests it has received since yesterday, is extremely animated. The minister, the secretary, and all the staff of the legation and house do all in ther power to attend to the refugees and make their sad situation comfortable.

the new ministers.

Eduardo Fleitas has been appointed minister of the interior. He is one of the most important men of the Republican party. He was senator, deputy, and a candidate of ex-President Aceval for the same ministry he holds now.

Dr. Manuel Dominguez will be in charge of the portfolio of foreign affairs. He is a distinguished lawyer and writer. He was formerly rector of the university.

Fulgencio Moreno was minister of finance of the past situation and will hold the same office with the new situation. He was Deputy to the National Congress and was one of the directors of the revolution yesterday.

Dr. Jose Trala, minister of justice and public instruction, was elected deputy against the candidate attributed to Dr. Aceval. He is young, illustrious, and of firm character.

General Escurra, a very active military man, still holds the portfolio of war, which place he held in the Government of Señor Aceval, and from which he prepared and directed the revolution.

fears of violence.

Notwithstanding the formation of the new cabinet, the political situation can not be considered altogether clear. It is feared that fresh occurrences may complicate the situation.

Yesterday, after the short telegram in which I communicated the news of the revolutionary movement, I could not continue sending information because the telegraph was intervened and only began to work again at 9 o’clock p.m. today.

Buenos Aires, January 11.

El País publishes a long interview held by one of its reporters with Dr. Cesar Gondra during his stay in this city about the Paraguayan revolutionary movement and its causes.

[Page 1054]

It says: Señor Hector Carvallo, who has assumed the Presidency of the Republic, is a man of good principle and is surrounded by elements which are a guaranty for the welfare of his country.”

[Inclosure 2.—Translated from the Montevideo Día, dated January 10, 1902.]

The President of Paraguay—Revolutionary movement—Its causes and antecedents.

Yesterday, at 10 o’clock in the morning, a revolutionary movement occurred in Asuncion del Paraguay, without bloodshed, without noise of arms, which immediately resulted in the imprisonment of the President of the Republic, Dr. Emilio Aceval, in the artillery barracks. A strange cases—the chief magistrate of Paraguay has fallen, at least for the moment, on account of a revolution, inspired and carried into practice by two of his own ministers, Col. Juan Antonio Escurra and Señor Fulgencio Moreno, who, although belonging to the same Colorado party as the President, differ in opinion at present, the former considering that a radical policy should be adopted against the liberals or civic accordists, Dr. Aceval not sharing this opinion, but being in favor of conciliatory measures, although this did not win for him the help of his traditional adversaries, who looked unfavorably on him, as is usually the way with those belonging to an opposite party.

For some time the radical Colorados have been quietly opposing Dr. Aceval. There were latent causes for great discontentment and bitter differences between the political elements presided over by the Paraguayan President, and lately these differences had increased between the heads of the various political circles which had brought Aceval to the Presidency. These differences existing within the Government circle, were stimulated by the cabinet crisis recently caused by the resignation of the minister of the interior, influenced chiefly by the problem of the future Presidency, and ended in the revolution, or rather the change of Government, since the movement has occurred within the Government and was caused by the men in power.

Necessarily a conflict had to occur between the two Colorado factions—one exclusivist, that of Generals Caballero and Escobar, the other moderate and conciliatory, that of the President and General Eguzquiza. The former, the date of the Presidential election approaching, supported the candidacy of Señor Guillermo de los Rios, ultra radical.

The President opposed it.

Under these circumstances the cabinet crisis occurred, Senor de los Rios, the minister of the interior, resigning, but not without having previously made an alliance with his colleagues of war, Colonel Ezcurra, and of finance, Senor Moreno, who appear as the heads of the plot against President Aceval.

On the same occasion Dr. Badillo, minister of justice, also resigned, but not for political reasons, it seems.

This is the origin of the revolution of yesterday. As will be seen by our telegraphic service, that movement has triumphed, the resignation of Dr. Aceval having been obtained. Congress accepted it, and in his place Señor Carvallo was named.

Unfortunately the movement has not ended without bloodshed, several personages having been wounded in the fight which occurred yesterday afternoon.

[Inclosure 3.]

Mr. Wavrunek to Mr. Finch.

Dear Sir: There is no doubt that industrially and financially Paraguay is in a bad way, gold having advanced to nearly 1,000, and each day it is becoming harder to live and to do business. To my mind this state of affairs is due to the propensity of the people to live and dress in style without producing the means to buy those things. Ways of communication, agriculture, etc., are neglected, and a lot is wasted on soldiers, uniforms, gold braid, and firecrackers. Yet this is not the fault of any political faction nor of the existing Government, but rather of the whole people—the ruts into which they have gotten. I believe that the present administration is as clean, honest, and anxious to do its best as any that can be selected in Paraguay. President Aceval certainly is a man of ability and possesses the confidence of the [Page 1055] majority of his people and, I am sure, of foreigners very generally, though the latter do not mix up in national politics. The impending crisis is due to causes outside of politics. The present cabinet consists of men than whom there are none better in Paraguay, especially the ministers of foreign affairs and of the interior.

There are six daily papers here—El País, the Government organ; the Civico, a decent organ of the opposition; the Democracia, an organ of Dr. Baez (present representative in the Pan-American Congress in Mexico, who aspires to the Presidency), opposed to the administration and to foreigners, and the Paraguay, whose principal object, evidently from personal motives, is to attack Minister de los Rios. Then there is the Patria Paraguaya, organ of the priests, and, lastly, the Patria (called here “Chica,” because it is small). The last named is conducted by a son of the tyrant Lopez and Madam Lynch, and his attitude is explained by the fact that he has a pending claim of many years’ standing against the Government to some 1,000 square leagues of land, as the illegitimate heir of his father. It is lucky for Paraguay that he is impecunious as well as unprincipled, otherwise he might do more damage than he is doing. He owes the Government about $1,000 for telegraph service and the Government refused to trust him further, hence another motive for his attacks. While he criticises the cut of President Aceval’s coat and indulges in other childish and nauseating tirades, he does not propose (nor do any of the other organs) any remedy for Paraguay’s ills.

Sincerely yours,

J. Wavrunek.