Evening star., 1951-05-20

al Tile FdclIlC. moreover, LnlS was
the second time that Arias had
been the chief architect of a polit-
ical crisis in Panama in a time
of serious world emergency. Be-
fore the overthrow of his previous
presidency, in the early days OF
World War II. his policies and
actions caused the greatest anxiety
to this country.
The career of Arnulfo, as he is
usually called to distinguish him
from an older brother, Harmodio
AriaS, who was a very able and
distinguished President back in
the 1930s. began at Harvard Uni
versity where he was a brilliant
STUDENT. Later he became the
outstanding surgeon of the 18TH
mian Republic. Like so many
Spanish Americans Of mixed
blood, he suffered from an in
feriority complex. Bitterly anti
United States, because of social
sights he is supposed to have
received in this country when a
student, he was determined one
day to rule Panama and, as one Of
his old friends put it. make it
hard for the Yankees"
In preparation for his political
career, he travelled in Europe in
the period Of Mussolini and Hitler
and was greatly impressed with
the power and pomp that sur
rounded those totalitarian rulers
In his first successful campaign
for the presidency, he preached a
Nazi-Fascist line. When he took
Office, one of his first acts was to
write and force adoption Of a new
constitution embracing many OF
the tenets of the European
dictators.
Flaunted Tradition
True to his early ambition, he
proceeded to pressure Uncle Sam
Although unable to hamper seri-
ously any activities of the Panama
Canal, he nevertheless dealt arbi'
trarily with the commercial and
other interests of United States
citizens in Panama. Feeling his
position and power secure, for q
time he Haunted the political ira
ditions and practices of his
country.
Eventually, however, he made
fatal error. One day he few to
Havana to visit a lady friend
without seeking permission OF
Congress to leave the country, OF
turning over responsibilities to
the Vice President, His enemies
within the government, backed by
the police force (the chief mill
tary establishment of Panama)
took over. Although he flew back
home Immediately. he was
promptly jailed and later sent
into exile. Throughout the bal
ance of World War II he spent
most of his time in Argentina
For several years most of Arias
followers remained faithful to
him. Immediately after the war
ended they started a campaign
against the United States, and es-
pecially against the continued use
by our armed forces of wartime
military bases in Panamanian
territory. They were eventually
able to arouse such opposition
that we were compelled to aban-
don millions of dollars worth Of
airfields and withdraw our force!
into the Canal Zone. Unfortu-
nately, all of this reacted to the
detriment of Panama itself. There
being no flying fields within the
zone capable of accommodating q
large portion of the newest planes
and equipment, practically all o1
our air forces were transferred tt
other Caribbean areas.
But eventually Panama settled
down, and in 1916 a new demo
cratic constitution replaced thu
one imposed by Arias in 1941
Meantime the former Presiden
himself had been permitted tt
return to the country and re-
enter politics. He became once
again q candidate for chief exec.
utive in the last presidential cleo
tions. Although opposed by thu
administration then in Office, a.
we'll as the all-powerful chief o.
police, Col. Jose Remon, he hac
the support of the extreme ma
tionalists. He also had the back
ing of the Communists, although
he later repudiated them. 1t wa
generally believed that he re-
ceived the majority of the votes
but he was finally counted out II
favor of the administration can.
didate, 70-year-old Domingo Diaz
Settled Old Scores
President Diaz died soon afte,
taking Office, and his passing wa
followed by a period of politica
disputes between the various ad
ministrations, the public and Col
Remon, who by this time, wa
actually the nations Presiden
maker. In the jostling that fol
lowed Remon finally put Aria
into Office again. For severa
months things went smoothly. TIL
new President changed his tactic
toward this country. He actuall.
co-operated Fundamentally will
the United States. But eventual.
he began settling old scores will
his enemies. He slapped severa
eX-Presidents into Jail, including
Adolfo de la Guardia, who hat
succeeded him in 1941. He evel
organized his own secret police il
opposition to the regular polio
force under Remon. Graft in ad
ministration and politial conniv
ing reached new high.
The last stages of his downfall
actually began last December. o.
the 5th Of that month a run begal
on one of the private hanks i,