Office of the Historian

824.00/7–2346: Telegram

The Ambassador in Bolivia (Flack) to the Secretary of State

La Paz, July 23, 1946.
[Received 9:55 p.m.]

692. Following is statement of Junta as published in today’s El Diario:

“The Junta of Government constituted by popular agreement with representatives of the Superior Court of Justice of the judicial district of La Paz, of the teachers, of the university youth and of union workers declares:

1.
It will respect treaties signed by Bolivia and will intensify its collaborative effort in its relations with the countries which are making an effort to obtain peace for the world.
2.
It will respect the individual liberties and guarantees which our democratic and republican institution traditionally recognizes, and will make national and foreign capital respected. It will not accept in the carrying out of public functions debtors to the treasury, those condemned for common crimes even though some of these latter might have deserved amnesty.
3.
It will call for elections for President of the Republic and national representatives just as soon as indispensable reforms in the present electoral law can be approved, declaring from now on the existing voting lists without legal value.
4.
The confiscation of newspaper enterprises having been an anti-constitutional measure this has been made without effect by the triumphant revolution.
5.
Recommends to students and inhabitants of the country to take care of the goods of those responsible for recent events in order that with their value the victims may be indemnified.
6.
To instruct the public prosecutor that immediate proceeding be taken subject to ordinary law against those who may be proved responsible [Page 362] for the common crimes perpetrated by elements of the fallen government.
7.
Orders the reopening of public functions and services of the same character from the twenty-third at 2 p.m.
8.
Makes known that with all preference it will resolve with a criterion of equity the pending claims of wages and salaries.
9.
Orders the Controller General’s office to proceed immediately to form a balance sheet referring to the monies invested in the national, departmental or municipal funds during the last 3-year period which were used for electoral purposes.
10.
There remain legally mortgaged the goods of the persons who through political title used national funds so that the registers of real property rights in each department will register the annotations of the law. And as to monies or properties which they might have had in deposit or custody, their retention is ordered by the respective institutions under penalty of responsibility.
11.
There is attributed a character of popular action to all trustworthy information tending to make effective the previous point. La Paz July 22, 1946, signed Nestor Guillen, Provisional President, C. Cabrera Garcia, Carlos Montano Daza, Raul Calvimontes, Secretary of Junta.”

Flack