Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1912

File No. 834.00/124.

[Untitled]

No. 12, Paraguay.]

American Legation,
Montevideo, December 20, 1911.

Sir: Referring to your instructions, No. 6, to Mr. Turner, of August 24, 1911, I have the honor to enclose a statement showing the presidential succession in Paraguay from 1870 down to the present time. As will be seen, the record is marred by irregularities and violence. Since 1904 the country has been in a perpetual unrest, with a revolution either brewing or in full blast.

I have [etc.]

Nicolay A. Grevstad.

[Inclosure.]

List of Presidents of Paraguay, 1870–1911.

American Legation,
Montevideo, December 20, 1911.

After the disastrous war against the triple alliance (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) in 1870, Paraguay was reorganized by a committee of leading citizens which assumed the powers of a constitutional convention. The constitution was framed and was promulgated on the 24th of November, 1870. This organic law has not been changed since, and is still in force, if not enforced. As in other South American republics, the president is elected by Congress, for a term of four years.

The record of the presidential succession from 1870 down to date is as follows:

(1) Don Cirilo Antonio Rivarola, who had acted as provisional executive during the greater part of the past two years, was elected the first constitutional president of the Republic upon the promulgation of the organic law in November, 1870, with Salvador Jovellanos as vice president. After about two years of service he was induced to resign, with the understanding that his resignation would not be accepted. However, it was accepted very promptly, and Rivarola had to leave the country to save his life. He was succeeded by the vice president,

(2) Salvador Jovellanos, who completed the presidential term.

(3) Juan Bautista Gill succeeded Jovellanos in 1874, but was assassinated in the streets of Asuncion in 1877 by one Nicanor, a brother of Juan Silvano Godoy, just returned from Rio Janeiro, where he had served as minister for a short time. The term was completed by the vice president,

(4) Higinio Uriarte, who served about a year.

(5) Cándido Bareiro succeeded Uriarte in November, 1878, and died a natural death within twelve months. The vice president was arrested and compelled to resign. About this time, the first president, Rivarola, returned from his exile, but was assassinated in the streets of the city in 1879, a few minutes after he had left the president’s house.

(6) Juan Bernardino Caballero took the reins of government which he held until the term was completed.

(7) Juan Caballero was duly elected president for the ensuing term, and was succeeded by

(8) Juan Patricio Escobar in 1886. His successor was

(9) Juan G. Gonzalez, who was elected in 1890, but was deposed after three years of service. His term was completed by vice president

(10) Marcus Moringo.

(11) Juan Bautista Egusquiza was elected president in November, 1894, and served out his term. He was succeeded in 1898 by

(12) Emilio Aceval, who did not complete his term. He was succeeded by the vice president,

(13) Hector Carvallo in the spring of 1902; in November, 1902,

(14) Col. Escuira was elected president but was deposed after two years, as a result of successful revolution headed by

(15) Dr. Benigno Ferreyra, who served four years as president.

From Gill to Escuira, a period of 30 years, the Colorado or Radical party was in power. Dr. Ferreyra and the Civicos, or so-called “Liberal” party, then took the reins of government. They were turned out after four years, however. In 1908 the Radicals started a revolution, which succeeded, and

(16) González Navero was elected president. He held office until 1910, when

(17) Manuel Gondra, Radical, was elected on November 25 of that year. He remained in power but a few months, until January 18, 1911, when he was forced to resign by

(18) Col. Albino Jara, a political adventurer, belonging to no party, who was elected by Congress to succeed Gondra. Within a couple of months a revolution was started to overthrow Jara. He was victorious in the field, yet he found his position untenable and was forced to resign in July of this year.

(19) Liberate M. Rojas was elected to succeed Jara. He is supposed to be a Cívico, but is by many held to be a Jarista, or follower of Jara.

During the last days of November, a revolution against Rojas broke out, headed by Manuel Gondra, Navero, and other Radicals, in combination with some leading men of the Cívico party.

Nicolay A. Grevstad.