834.00 Revolutions/43
The Minister in Paraguay (Howard) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 30.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch No. 451 of September 10, 193723 regarding the recent political disturbances and to inform the Department that, while there continues to be considerable uneasiness and tension, Asunción is quiet and business is going on almost [Page 745] normally. All information coming in from the country districts is that all is quiet.
The police regulations regarding meetings remains in force as does the rule that no one is to be on the streets after ten p.m. There are many patrols out all night and they start warning pedestrians and persons in wheeled traffic as early as nine-thirty that it is time to get off the streets. There have been a number of instances where police have searched persons for arms before ten o’clock, several instances of search as early as seven o’clock having been reported.
There was considerable rifle firing at night on the 12th, 13th, and 14th. However, since that time there have only been random shots. Two or three deaths from bullet wounds have been reported.
The city was full of government military trucks and foot patrols during the night of the 12–13. It is obvious that Colonel Luis Irrazabal was contemplating some move, the details of which are not as yet available (See despatch No. 455 of September 17, 1937).24 However, the government was prepared for such a contingency and there was no disturbance.
The total number of people who sought and were granted asylum in the Mexican, Peruvian, Argentine, Uruguayan and Cuban Legations, as published in the local press, was 26. All have been granted travel documents and have left for the Argentine or Uruguay. It is reported that a number of persons implicated in the last uprising attempted to enter the Argentine at Clorinda and other nearby points but that they were turned back by the Argentine authorities.
Respectfully yours,