COUP IN BOLIVIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1943, Page 4

COUP IN BOLIVIA

PRESIDENT & MINISTERS ARRESTED BIG FACTIONS OPPOSED TO UNITED STATES ALL NEWSPAPERS SUSPENDED (By Telegraph—'Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LA PAZ (Bolivia), December 20. The National Revolutionary Party carried out a coup and arrested the Bolivian President, Enrique Penaranda, two of his Ministers and a number of Army off icers, all of whom are held incommunicado. Publication of all newspapers has been stopped and soldiers are guarding’ their offices.

Senor Estenssoro, the revolutionary leader, has taken over the Governor’s Palace. The revolutionary movement is supported by soldiers and youth organisations. The object of the coup is not yet clear, but it is known that the movement is strongly opposed to United States policies. President Penaranda, who is anti-Nazi, visited the United States last May and was personally welcomed by President Roosevelt.

A London message states that pending the receipt of further information about the Bolivian coup-d’ctat by which President Penaranda has been overthrown in La Paz, comment in London is reserved. Senor Estenssoro is known as a rising politician, with strong Nationalist tendencies. Bolivia broke off relations with the Axis Powers not long after the Japanese entry into the war and became a full belligerent last spring. President Penaranda’s declaration of war was ratified in La Paz early this month. For several years Bolivia has been supplying the United Nations with large quantities of tin and other minerals. President Penaranda has been in office since April, 1940.