Evening star., 1939-12-17
Dr.. Boyd Called Home
To Fill Out Term Of
Panama President
Roosevelt Expresses
U. S. Regret at Deoth
Of Arosemeno

trained surgeon who entered politics
as . sideline to q medical career ir
his native Panama and rose to the
dual position Of first vice president
of his country and its Ambassado,
to the United States, was called
home yesterday to become President
Of the Republic.
He will serve as President until
next october. fllling the unexpired
portion of the term of President
Juan Demosthenes Arosemena, who
died suddenly early yesterday.
In New York with his wife and
son when notified of the death of his
President. DR.. Boyd hurried by train
back to Washington to wind up his
affairs as Ambassador preparatory
to sailing as soon as possible for
Panama.
President Roosevelt, Secretary oil
State Hull and other officials of this
Government joined DR.. Boyd in ex-
pressing regret at the death OF
President Arosemena.
Telegram Of Sympathy.
Mr.. Roosevelt sent telegram OF
sympathy to Ezequiel Fernandez
Jaen, second vice president OF
Panama who is serving as pro-
visional president until DR.. Boyd
takes the oath Of Office. The mes
sage read:
I learn with profound sorrow OF
the death of His Excellency Juan
Demostenes Arosemena, President
OF the Republic of Panama. On be-
half of the people of the United
States and with a sense of keen
personal loss, I extend to you an
expression Of deepest sympathy in
the passing of your distinguished
THE United States has lost q
sympathetic and understanding
friend in the passing of President
Arosemena," the President said at
Hyde Park. Il had had the pleas
ure OF knowing him for many years
and had seen him and conferred
with him every time I have gone
through the Panama Canal during
the past six years.
I am especially shocked by the
news Of his unexpected death be-
cause only week ago at the Grid
iron dinner Ambassador Boyd had
given me a favorable report con-
cerning his health. The Western
Hemisphere has lost an eloquent
advocate and earnest exemplar in
the cause of Pan-American unity
Message From Hull.
Secretary Hull sent a message to
DR.. Marcibeo Garay, Panamanian
secretary for foreign relations, ask
Ing DR.. Garay to convey to Presi-
dent Arosemenas family "a per-
sonal expression of my profound
sense OF their bereavement
Secretary Hull, Lawrence Duggan
chief OF the American Republics
division OF the State Department,
and George T. Summerlin, chief of
the division of protocol, called at
the Panamanian Embassy during
the day to express condolences per-
sonally.
Returning here from New York
yesterday afternoon, DR.. Boyd said
he planned to sail for Panama not
later than next Thursday. His
wife. their daughter, Dora, and SON,
Augusta, jr., who has been serving
as an attache of the Embassy here,
Will accompany him.
Pending appointment of a new
Ambassador, to which DR.. Bovd
said he had given little considera-
tlon as yet. Julio E. Briceno, First
Secretary of the Embassy here. will
act as Charge d"Affaires.
No Statement on Policy.
DR.. Boyd withheld any statement
on his policies as President. He
WILL not be eligible to succeed him.
self in the regular presidential
election scheduled next June.
One Of the major tasks facing him
when he assumes the presidency of
his country will be to act as inter-
medlary between the 81 American
republics and the belligerent Euro
pean nations for the communica-
tlon OF any protest that may be
formulated as a result of the viola
ton OF the Pan-American neu-
trai1ty zone involved in the British
German naval battle of the coast
OF Uruguay last Wednesday.
Secretary Hull said yesterday that
consultations looking toward Joint
action were going on among the
american nations, under provisions
OF the neutrality zone declaration
adopted at conference in Panama
October 3.
Dr. Boyd, elected vice president of
Panama in 1896. came here as his
country's Minister to the United
States in October Of that year. His
rank later was elevated to that of
Ambassador.