Panama President. He displayed an affinity for scholarship from an early age, a quality his parents nurtured. Earning a scholarship to study abroad, he attended University School (an independent boys school, now defunct) in Southport, England. He further earned his law degree from Cambridge University, culminating with a PhD in Law from the University of London in 1911. Upon his return to Panama, he initiated the law firm of Fabrega and Arias and became active in the Liberal Party, serving as Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Interior. Arias initially ascended to the presidency as a result of the Community Action coup, which saw the resignation of Florencio Arosemena in 1931. He held status as acting president from January 2 to 16 of that year, during which time the National Assembly declared first designate Ricardo Alfaro the constitutional successor. Arias won election the following year, holding the office from June 5, 1932 to October 1, 1936. His administration promoted the construction of schools and public offices and improved sanitation in the heretofore neglected towns of the interior. Notably, he co-founded the University of Panama, with Jose Pezet in 1935. Taking advantage of US President Franklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy, he personally traveled to Washington. signing the General Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (aka, the Arias-Roosevelt Treaty) in 1933. The treaty was a promissory agreement insuring "sympathetic consideration to future arbitration." It paved the way for the Hull-Alfaro Treaty (1936), which recognized the sovereignty of Panama. Along with commercial economic concessions, the treaty increased the Canal annuity payment and abrogated the rights of the US to military intervention outside the Canal Zone and the expropriation of Panamanian lands without consent. He is also credited with the installation of radio stations and minting Panamanian coinage. Arias published 5 books on international law (all in the English language) and founded the newspaper Panama America. He died on an airline flight from the US to Panama.