Under Control

One dark night nine men quietly picked their way through the blackness to the central police station in the city of Panama. They were confident. The bribes had been paid, police officers had promised them help in breaking in. If they could seize police control, the plotters might arrest president Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia, proclaim in his place Anibal Rios, former Minister to Peru, who was scheduled to return from that country in a day or two.

Anibal Rios, who had been third vice president under totalitarian-minded President Arnulfo Arias, had refused to resign from the office when another coup less than two months earlier replaced playboy Arias with pro-U.S. President de la Guardia (TIME, Oct. 20).

When the conspirators burst into the police station, waiting men seized them. The bribed officers had revealed the plot to the Government.

Last week President de la Guardia an nounced that twelve prominent politicians had been arrested for plotting against the peace of the nation. The leaders were Antonio Anguizola, wealthy ranch owner, and Fabian Velarde, Panama's No. 1 criminal lawyer.

Convicted of resisting arrest and being disrespectful to the police, sentenced to 40 days in jail, the twelve awaited trial on the more serious charge: "movement of a subversive character against the constituted powers." Police were ordered to arrest Anibal Rios the moment he set foot in Panama. Vice President Rios stood on his constitutional rights ("Come what may, I am going to serve"), but discreetly remained in Colombia.

Though all this looked like comic opera, President de la Guardia saw beneath the grease paint. Said he:

"I have defined the present political situation of the country as a struggle of men of good will who wish to contribute to the well-being of the Fatherland, against the eternal political gangsters who have no other aims than bingo games, the roulette wheels and other gambling means to acquire thousands of dollars at the expense of the people. . . . Now more than ever it is necessary that the Government have peace and order that it may better face the international situation and contribute effectively toward the defense of the Canal."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.