Manuel Gondra

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Manuel Gondra (1920)

Manuel Gondra (born January 1, 1871 in Buenos Aires , † March 8, 1927 in Asunción ) was a Paraguayan philologist , man of letters , politician , minister and president (1910-1911 and 1920-1921).

Gondra was born in Buenos Aires in 1871 as the son of the Argentine Manuel José Gondra Alcorta and the Paraguayan Natividad Pereira Oscariz. He attended elementary school in Villeta , his mother's hometown. He then moved to the Colegio Nacional in Asunción and, in 1891, to the Universidad Nacional , where he began studying law. He left university without a degree to devote himself to teaching and literature. He educated himself further by reading the great thinkers and philosophers, which he read in their original language. In addition to Latin, he also spoke French, English, German and Italian. At the Colegio Nacional and other institutions he gave instruction in grammar, literature and geography. In addition to his literacy, he had an excellent memory, from which he could call up the right quote at any opportunity. His private library was one of the most valuable in the country. It was bought by the University of Texas at Austin after his death . He wrote for numerous newspapers and was considered the most brilliant Paraguayan writer of his era. Gondra's literary works were published in Buenos Aires in 1942 under the title "Hombres y Letras de América".

Political career

As a politician, Gondra had been a mentor to the Liberal Party since the beginning of the 20th century. He was interior minister and served as foreign minister in the cabinets of Eduardo Schaerer and Manuel Franco . In 1909, in this role, he negotiated an extradition treaty with the German Reich. He became President twice (November 25, 1910 - January 17, 1911 and August 15, 1920 - November 7, 1921), but without ever ending his mandate. He achieved his greatest political success as foreign minister. At the Panamericana Conference in Santiago de Chile in 1923, he presented his project for a legal system for the settlement of conflicts between American states, which was adopted and has since been called the “Convención Gondra” ( Gondra Treaty ).

Gondra lived poor and died poor. His simple, celibate life was devoted to culture, thought, the public good, and the ideals of justice and freedom. He died on March 8, 1927 at the age of 56 in Asunción.

Individual evidence

  1. Manuel Gondra - Biografía portalguarani.com , accessed March 29, 2019.
  2. Manuel Gondra Pereira abc.com.py , May 29, 2005, accessed March 29, 2019.
  3. Extradition contract between the German Reich and the Free State of Paraguay hjr-verlag.de (PDF), accessed on March 29, 2019.
predecessor Office successor
Emiliano González Navero President of Paraguay
1910–1911
Albino Jara
predecessor Office successor
José Pedro Montero President of Paraguay
1920–1921
Eusebio Ayala