Office of the Historian

824.001 Busch, German/10: Telegram

The Minister in Bolivia (Dawson) to the Secretary of State

La Paz, August 23, 1939—10 a.m.
[Received 2:25 p.m.]

51. President Busch shot himself mortally early this morning and is expected to die within hours. Leading Army officers and Cabinet members are conferring as to succession and it seems doubtful that Vice President will be allowed to succeed, probability being military [Page 308] government. Telephone service cut off and strict press and telegraph censorship imposed. Disturbances may be expected later although city is quiet.

Dawson