Having led Paraguay through its Chaco War with Bolivia,
Eusebio Ayala was Paraguay’s “President of Victory.”
Apart from the two presidential terms of 1921-1923 and 1932-1936,
Ayala served his country as a distinguished politician and minister
throughout most of his adult life.1
Life
Eusebio Ayala was born on August 14th, 1875 in Barrero Grande,
Paraguay to Abdón Bordenave and Casimira Ayala, a young
19-year-old woman. After spending his childhood years at his birthplace,
he moved to the capital city of Asunción in 1889. There,
he attended college, the Colegio Nacional de la Capital in 1891
and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sciences. He continued
his studies at a Law School, the Facultad de Derecho, where he
graduated with a Doctorate in law and social sciences in 1904.
2
Politics
Ayala formally officially joined Paraguayan politics on July 4th
of 1908, and the governing assembly on August 15th of the same
year. 2 During his career, he stood up for liberalism in politics
and social systems. 1 His most distinguished years were from 1908-1925,
marked by the various different ministers he served as, including
Minister of Justice and Minister of External Relations. 2
Unexpectedly, he became President of Paraguay on November 7th,
1921, after Vice President Félix Paiva refused to continue
governing in place of the former President. After a little over
a year of governing, Ayala also gave up his position on April
12 of 1923. Years later, on January 17th, the Liberal Party chose
him as their candidate and he once again took office on August
15, 1932. 2
Chaco War
Disputes between Paraguay and Bolivia over the sovereignty of
the Chaco, an area of land lacking clearly defined borders, heightened
in June of 1932. Having taken office during the time of the conflict,
Ayala was given the responsibility of leading Paraguay through
this violent time. He first sought to deal with Bolivia through
peaceful means, much to the disfavor of the public, and members
of his own party. Later, however, he changed course in his policy
and turned to aggressive actions against Bolivia. He spoke of
Paraguay’s rightful ownership of the Chaco by the “work
of Nature” and of the “sacrifices necessary to serenely
and firmly” defend the territory. He said that the “Bolivian
threat” on their land, which “waged perpetual war
against them,” would not be allowed. This led to the unification
of his party and his nation, and Ayala won back the favor of both.
3
After having served his nation for the greater part of his life,
Ayala moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, were he died of a sudden,
unexpected death on June 4 of 1942. 2
