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primary schools, did establish a central nor-
Ubico's anti-Nazi precautions, extended to all
mal school and six secondary schools, sup-
opposition groups, further suppressed indi-
ported a school of arts and trades and a mili-
vidual liberties. After 1942, rapidly rising liv-
tary school, and brought the university under
ing costs and governmental economic controls
state control. In accordance with Liberal
intensified dissatisfaction with Ubico's presi-
ideals, Barrios advocated restoration of a Cen-
dency, which had been extended for a second
tral American union. However, while at-
time through personal control of a constitu-
tempting to effect the union through military
tional assembly.
force, he was killed in action in 1885.
The resignation of Ubico, after thirteen
The Liberal Party policy under Barrios was
years in office, was forced by a desire, among
crystallized in the Constitution of 1879. The
all classes, to escape dictatorial controls. The
main outline of this document has never been
initiative was first taken by students, who,
radically altered, though changes and addi-
influenced by twentieth century ideas of lib-
tions have been made several times. More
eralism, conscious of the intellectual freedom
than a statement of basic principles, the
that existed in Mexico, and encouraged by the
Guatemalan constitution includes many de-
Salvadoran student revolt that overthrew the
tailed articles which have the effect of specific
Dictator Martinez, demanded reforms in the
laws. Although it has always been liberal
university. The forceful suppression of the
and democratic in theory, it has, in practice,
student revolt by Ubico's National Police, and
been subject to the will of a powerful execu-
particularly the indiscriminate shooting of a
tive who can ignore or alter its provisions.
number of women by these police, created a
The political history of Guatemala since
general public demand for the President's res-
Barrios has been one of periods of partisan
ignation, which he met by depositing his man-
dissension alternating with years of peace
date with three obscure generals. One of
maintained by strong-handed presidents.
these, General Frederico Ponce, was desig-
The conservatives-wealthy landowners-
nated by Congress (still dominated by Ubico's
have avoided direct participation in politics,
Liberal Independent Party) as provisional
fearing a revolt which would cause their work-
President.
men to be recruited into the army and would
Fear that General Ponce, with the aid of
perhaps lead to the destruction or confisca-
Ubico's party organization and Indian "ma-
tion of their properties. The upper class has
chete men" from the large plantations, would
therefore countenanced venality in the gov-
perpetuate himself in office led to a military
ernment and perpetuation of personal regimes
revolt backed by the same popular forces that
in exchange for freedom from political repris-
opposed Ubico. This was led by three men:
als. Manuel Estrada Cabrera, whose presi-
Jorge Toriello (member of a conservative mer-
dency lasted from 1898 to 1920, held the long-
chant family and brother of a student leader);
est tenure of all recent presidents. He was
Major Francisco J. Arana (a career soldier,
succeeded, after an interval, by General Jorge
commander of a tank battalion and later Chief
Ubico, who maintained himself in office from
of the Armed Forces); and ex-Captain Jacobo
1931 to 1944, when he was forced to resign.
Arbenz (a well-educated man with leftist af-
Ubico's administration, beneficial to the
filiations, subsequently Minister of Defense).
country in some ways, became a personal dic-
The triumvirate held power until a new Presi-
tatorship. He built roads, enforced honesty
dent, popularly elected by constitutional
in public office, created a modern police sys-
means, could take office. This President was
tem, renovated the army, and extended public
Juan José Arévalo, a reform-minded intellect-
health and sanitation services. Yet in pro-
ual of humble parentage who had spent seven
moting his program, he eventually stifled all
years teaching in Argentine universities as a
opposition and became increasingly arbitrary,
voluntary exile from the Ubico regime.
suspicious, and unreasonable. Simultane-
The revolutionary movement that forced
ously with the United States, Guatemala de-
Ubico to resign, and which overthrew his suc-
clared war on Japan and Germany, and
cessor, Ponce, represents more than a simple
SECRET
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"ocrText": "4\nprimary schools, did establish a central nor-\nUbico's anti-Nazi precautions, extended to all\nmal school and six secondary schools, sup-\nopposition groups, further suppressed indi-\nported a school of arts and trades and a mili-\nvidual liberties. After 1942, rapidly rising liv-\ntary school, and brought the university under\ning costs and governmental economic controls\nstate control. In accordance with Liberal\nintensified dissatisfaction with Ubico's presi-\nideals, Barrios advocated restoration of a Cen-\ndency, which had been extended for a second\ntral American union. However, while at-\ntime through personal control of a constitu-\ntempting to effect the union through military\ntional assembly.\nforce, he was killed in action in 1885.\nThe resignation of Ubico, after thirteen\nThe Liberal Party policy under Barrios was\nyears in office, was forced by a desire, among\ncrystallized in the Constitution of 1879. The\nall classes, to escape dictatorial controls. The\nmain outline of this document has never been\ninitiative was first taken by students, who,\nradically altered, though changes and addi-\ninfluenced by twentieth century ideas of lib-\ntions have been made several times. More\neralism, conscious of the intellectual freedom\nthan a statement of basic principles, the\nthat existed in Mexico, and encouraged by the\nGuatemalan constitution includes many de-\nSalvadoran student revolt that overthrew the\ntailed articles which have the effect of specific\nDictator Martinez, demanded reforms in the\nlaws. Although it has always been liberal\nuniversity. The forceful suppression of the\nand democratic in theory, it has, in practice,\nstudent revolt by Ubico's National Police, and\nbeen subject to the will of a powerful execu-\nparticularly the indiscriminate shooting of a\ntive who can ignore or alter its provisions.\nnumber of women by these police, created a\nThe political history of Guatemala since\ngeneral public demand for the President's res-\nBarrios has been one of periods of partisan\nignation, which he met by depositing his man-\ndissension alternating with years of peace\ndate with three obscure generals. One of\nmaintained by strong-handed presidents.\nthese, General Frederico Ponce, was desig-\nThe conservatives-wealthy landowners-\nnated by Congress (still dominated by Ubico's\nhave avoided direct participation in politics,\nLiberal Independent Party) as provisional\nfearing a revolt which would cause their work-\nPresident.\nmen to be recruited into the army and would\nFear that General Ponce, with the aid of\nperhaps lead to the destruction or confisca-\nUbico's party organization and Indian \"ma-\ntion of their properties. The upper class has\nchete men\" from the large plantations, would\ntherefore countenanced venality in the gov-\nperpetuate himself in office led to a military\nernment and perpetuation of personal regimes\nrevolt backed by the same popular forces that\nin exchange for freedom from political repris-\nopposed Ubico. This was led by three men:\nals. Manuel Estrada Cabrera, whose presi-\nJorge Toriello (member of a conservative mer-\ndency lasted from 1898 to 1920, held the long-\nchant family and brother of a student leader);\nest tenure of all recent presidents. He was\nMajor Francisco J. Arana (a career soldier,\nsucceeded, after an interval, by General Jorge\ncommander of a tank battalion and later Chief\nUbico, who maintained himself in office from\nof the Armed Forces); and ex-Captain Jacobo\n1931 to 1944, when he was forced to resign.\nArbenz (a well-educated man with leftist af-\nUbico's administration, beneficial to the\nfiliations, subsequently Minister of Defense).\ncountry in some ways, became a personal dic-\nThe triumvirate held power until a new Presi-\ntatorship. He built roads, enforced honesty\ndent, popularly elected by constitutional\nin public office, created a modern police sys-\nmeans, could take office. This President was\ntem, renovated the army, and extended public\nJuan José Arévalo, a reform-minded intellect-\nhealth and sanitation services. Yet in pro-\nual of humble parentage who had spent seven\nmoting his program, he eventually stifled all\nyears teaching in Argentine universities as a\nopposition and became increasingly arbitrary,\nvoluntary exile from the Ubico regime.\nsuspicious, and unreasonable. Simultane-\nThe revolutionary movement that forced\nously with the United States, Guatemala de-\nUbico to resign, and which overthrew his suc-\nclared war on Japan and Germany, and\ncessor, Ponce, represents more than a simple\nSECRET"
}