Juan Manuel Gálvez History of Honduras (1900–1954)

1 juan manuel gálvez

1.1 election , exert of gálvez
1.2 strike of 1954
1.3 constitutional crisis of 1954

juan manuel gálvez
election , exert of gálvez

president, juan manuel gálvez

the government of united states in turn, wanted done problems in central america. therefore, urged carías allow free elections once current term ended. then, carías, had more seventy years. general yielded these pressures , announced elections october 1948, in abstain present candidate. nevertheless, carías found ways use power.

general carias nominated ex-minister of war (1933), juan manuel gálvez presidential candidate national party. on other hand, exiled opposition figures authorised return honduras. of form, plh, treating surpass years of inactivity , division, nominated Ángel zúñiga huete presidential candidate.

but liberals, convinced did not have possibility of winning and, accusing government of manipulation of electoral process, boycotted elections. gave gálvez victory without opposition , in january 1949 assumed presidency.

once president, gálvez showed independent person. more of had anticipated . president gálvez adopted policies of carías, such construction of roads , development of exports of coffee. in 1953 fourth part of budget of government devoted construction of roads.

gálvez followed greater part of fiscal politics of previous administration, reduction of external debt , paying off last of british bonds. fruit companies followed receiving deal part of gálvez. example, in 1949, united fruit received favourable agreement of twenty-five years.

in addition, gálvez established remarkable changes in comparison last fifteen years. education received greater attention , began perceive greater part of national budget. congress approved law of income tax, although application sporadic @ best.

the evident change in political sand. considerable degree of freedom of press restored. liberal party allowed reorganise, other political groups. workers benefited during period. established working time of 8 hours, paid holidays paid, , responsibility of employer workplace safety , regulations of employment of women , boys.

the strike of 1954

the relative peace honduras had enjoyed 2 decades destroyed series of events during last year (1954) of gálvez term. tension in entire central american region increased confrontation developed between left-leaning government of president jacobo arbenz guzmán of guatemala , united states.

part of confrontation due expropriation of land united fruit company guatemalan government. likewise united states accused government of arbenz guzmán of boosting agitation among workers of fruit company. in 1952 united states had considered taking action overthrow guatemalan president. government of gálvez, had given asylum opponents government between them carlos castillo armas, did not wanted cooperate in direct actions against of guatemala, , plans not activated.

this until principles of 1954, when big covert operation developed in honduran territory against guatemalan president. government of honduras had showed worry, because of tensions between workers of banana industry , united fruit. administration of gálvez concluded due influence left-handed government of guatemala had on honduran workers.

for principles of may 1954, tensions had increased. in first place, gave series of strikes against operations of united fruit company in coast north of honduras. few days, strike extended , included operations of standard fruit company, banana sector of country arrived deadlock.

the strikers presented wide range of complaints. between include : increase of wage, better conditions of work, medical profits, payment of hours, , right collective negotiation. initial efforts of government put end strike fracasaron , unemployments began extend other industries. on 21 may, number of strikers approached 30.000, , economy of country under strong pressure.

in addition having lidiar strike, likewise government saw increasingly involved in movement overthrow government of arbenz in guatemala. finals of may, agreement of military assistance subscribed between united states , honduras, , big quantities of american arms sent honduras.

big part of received send rebellious anti-arbenz headed castle arm. in june these strengths crossed border of guatemala , after several days of political manoeuvres, , little armed fight, arbenz escaped exile , castle arm took power in country.

with overthrow of arbenz finished foreign influence between honduran workers. strike finished in july of year, sindical leaders had been accused have bonds guatemala imprisoned, banana companies yielded demands of workers. marked beginning of labour strength more organized , decrease in power of companies fruteras.

the constitutional crisis of 1954

julio lozano díaz

in middle of these conflicts, campaigning elections of 1954 continued. dissatisfied policies of gálvez on liberalisation, carías decided run president in spite of advanced age, ensuring nomination of pnh. move, however, divided party. moderate members separated party , formed national revolutionary movement (mnr). candidate ex-vice president abraham williams calderón. division among nationalists motivated liberals, joined behind candidacy of ramón villeda morales, doctor tegucigalpa. campaign elections free , honest. on 10 october 1954, 260,000 of more 400,000 voters voted. villeda moral won elections 121,213 votes, carías received 77,041, , williams carried 53,041.

the liberal party of honduras (plh) obtained majority in term of office. under constitution, villeda did not obtain necessary majority of votes president (-8000 votes). resembled sucedido in 1924. situation left in hands of term of office decision choose new president. complicate things more, gálvez went miami, purportedly receive medical treatment, although sources fled country, leaving government in hands of vice-president julio lozano díaz.

national party (pnh) , national movement revolutionary (mnr) not had accept election of villeda boycotted legislative assembly, producing constitutional crisis. of agreement constitution, touched him supreme court of justice choose president. court dominated carías appointees, liberal party of honduras opposed such course of action. in conjuncture, lozano díaz suspended term of office , proclaimed president until new elections.