819.00 Revolutions/15: Telegram
The Minister in Panama ( Davis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:50 p.m.]
19. I have just received a note dated yesterday signed “Francisco Arias Paredes, Minister for Foreign Affairs” the first paragraph of which reads in translation as follows:
“I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that His Excellency the President of the Republic, Don Florencio Harmodio Arosemena, yesterday irrevocably resigned his office and before so doing appointed Dr. Harmodio Arias Minister of Government and Justice. Upon the resignation of the President the Cabinet charged Dr. Arias with the executive power until the arrival in the country of Dr. Ricardo J. Alfaro4 whom the Honorable Supreme Court of Justice has called to take over the Presidency of the Republic in his capacity of First Designate the election of Mr. Tomas Gabriel Duque by the last National Assembly having been declared unconstitutional.”
The writer then informs me of the appointment of the Cabinet which is substantially as reported in my telegram number 8 of January 2, 7 p.m.,5 and expressing the hope that the relations between the Ministry and the Legation will continue to be as cordial as in the past.
Identical notes were addressed to the chiefs of all diplomatic missions accredited to Panama.
Please instruct as to phraseology or sense of reply and form to be used in addressing Mr. Arias Paredes. If the Department considers it to be advisable I could limit my reply to the statement that I had forwarded his note to the Department thus affording additional time for the situation to clarify before the Department makes known its attitude on the Panama situation.