Alessandri Out

For five years Senor Alessandri has been President of Chile. About a year ago (TIME, Sept. 22, 1924) a military junto seized the Government, and told President Alessandri that he could remain in office if he would go away on a six months' vacation. He went to Europe. Before the six months were up a junto of younger Chilean officers seized the Government from their outraged superiors (TIME, Feb. 2), told President Alessandri to come back. He came.

Recently, Colonel Carlos Ibanez, leader of the young military junto which recalled President Alessandri, decided that he might like to be elected President himself. It would be convenient if Alessandri would resign. Alessandri resigned--after a "quarrel" with Colonel Ibanez.

Naturally the Chilean Cabinet also resigned--all save Ibanez, who gave out that he was responsible for the discipline of the nation's armed forces and could not risk stepping down from his command for even a moment.

The resigned President protested that Colonel Ibanez should not hold a portfolio while a candidate for the Presidency. The Colonel continued to await the election date, Oct. 24; clutched his portfolio none the less tightly.

Last week Alessandri realized that the time had come for him to do nothing at all. He did it, leaving at the nominal helm of Chilean affairs Senator Barros Borgono, whom he had appointed Minister of the Interior and President pro tempore.