Atlanta Daily World

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (ANP) - President Dumarsais Estime of Haiti had resigned his office Saturday. He was forced to relinquish the presidency when a three man military junta, the same one which selected him in 1946 and which controls the army and police force of the little Republic, turned against him.

The junta seized power, placed President Estime and his family under its "protection" and dissolved Parliament.

The "putsch" brings the military and the aristocrats back into power. They are being backed by the commercial interests of the country to a considerable extent.

These are principally Syrians who control the banks and many business houses, as well as Americans and other foreigners. The aristocrats have been out of control ever since Estime was elevated to office, succeeding former President Lescot who was compelled to flee four years ago.

Estime strove for a democratic government for all the people. He built schools, encouraged building of homes and inaugurated the exposition now in progress in order to bring tourists, visitors and business people to Haiti.

FORCE ABDICATION

Several incidents preceded the abdication of President Estime.

The Chamber of Deputies elected last January when there was a political upheaval and a state of siege was declared had approved a constitutional amendment which would have permitted Estime's re-election in 1952. The Senate, to represent the mulatto element in the country, was not fully in accord and rejected the amendment a month ago. The country has been in a state of calm but the storm center of manifestations by the masses of the people following an attack which was made upon the senate chamber.

The senate quarters were wrecked. That night 3000 people peasant and lower class Haitians rushed to the center of the city, gathered around the presidential palace and shouted President Estime, We are with you. Don't have any fear. Long live Estime!

PEOPLE BACK ESTIME

The group invited the president to come out and lead them in a march. Estime did so and the crowd marched triumphantly around the principal thoroughfare, with Estime at its head.

In the evening when his friends and partisans gathered about him at a reception, President Estime went on the air and broadcast a message to the people, reiterating his determination to be president of all the people and not of the upper classes alone. He said:

"I swear to defend with my life, if need be, your certain right to dignity, to education and your well being."

"You have shown that the assumption of the aristocrats that they can rule the country for their own-selfish benefit is over. Haiti belongs to its people."

President Estime told the radio audience that Haitian worker and peasants must have better wages, that schools and health conditions must be improved and that there must be a definite lifting of the standard of living. It was at the time that the military junta took over. It was headed by Brig Gen Frank Lavaud, head of the Haitian army. Maj Paul Magloire and Col Antoine Levelt, the same group which led the uprising which forced former president Lescot to find a hide-away in Canada.

COMMUNICATION ENSURED
Mail and telegraphs are censored at present. There have been rumors that because of his popularity with the people, President Estime would not be permitted to remain in the country and that he and his family would go to France.

ARMY RULES HAITI AS PRESIDENT QUITS—Port Au Prince, Haiti— This recent picture shows Haiti's President, Dumarsais Estime, in happier days, cutting the ribbon which formally dedicated the President Harry S. Truman Boulevard here. Today, a military group took control of the country and President Estime quit. The political crisis began when the Senate rejected last month an amendment which would have made President Estime eligible to succeed himself (Keystone Photo)