The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-10

Omcials pointed out that. the up- heaval was not comparable to Q rev- olution, but rather to resolving the impossible situation of Q government without a head"
 Octavio Fabrega, new minister of foreign relations, formally notified all diplomatic officers in the country of the change.
 President De La Guardia, exer- cising his powers as minister of jus- tice, ordered teh arerst of various government officials and the entire staff of the pro-Arias government newspaper La Tribuna, closed all saloons and .confiscated slot machines.
 Police still patroled the border between Panama and the Canal Zone. but automobiles were no longer stopped, as they had been immediately after the coup d'etat, and busses were allowed to circu- late freely.
 The new government issued . manifesto to the nation, explaining its reason for overthrowing the AriaS' government.
 "The citizen who until recently presided over the government hav- ing suddenly absented himself, and since such absence is contrary to the constitution and laws of the rec public, 1t was necessary in order to avoid that the government remain empty that an authorized citizen should assume this public power," 1t said in part.
 Since the first designate (first vice-president) could not be found this morning, before the honorable supreme court, Justice Ernesto Jaen Guardia, second designate, (second vice-president) took possession of the government and the oath of of1ice. Immediately he constituted q new cabinet, and having formed this new cabinet, he presented his resig- nation before the supreme court, and the cabinet having picked Ricardo De La Guardia to assume his power, the latter took possession and the oath before the same court.
 ". The government guarantees the nation that 1t has made the firm decision to lead its citizens along strictly constitutional and le- gal paths and in conformity with the highest principles of republican, ism and Democracy :"
 The coup d'etat began like this:
 Early yesterday morning, De La Guardia went to the central police station and busted the commander of police. He appointed new com- mander and summoned the Arias cabinet Into session. All appeared except the first vice-president and the minister of education, Jose Pe- get.
 = De La Guardia announced that Arias could not be found in Panama and that, since Pezet was not pres- ent, Guardia, the second designate and minister to Mexico, should be sworn in.
 Guardia was sworn in by the su. preme court, and Supreme Court Justice Dario Vallarino raised his hands in a prayerful gesture and exclaimed:
 At last there is democracy in Panama"
 It was reported without confirm ation that Otto Reinbeck, Germaf1 minister to Central America, had cancelled trip to Panama.
 Arias flew to Cuba as "eenor Madrid, leaving his wife here. Guardia had arrived about 10 days ago from Mexico City to take a va. cation from his diplomatic duties.
 One of the last acts of the Arais' regime had ben to decree that Pan- ama-registered ships, many of which are American owned, could not be armed against submarine attacks. The ruling came when the United States administration was propos- ing armament of American flag ships.