access to Paraguay's first Japanese settlers, and also facilitated the return of Paraguayan prisoners of war from Bolivia. Military policy Franco undertook to restructure and modernize Paraguay's armed forces and sell weapons that had become worn-out or obsolete. His government sought to acquire 60 Italian military aircraft in readiness for any threats from Paraguay's neighbours (including Bolivia) and in light of the serious developments then transpiring in Europe. Orders for these aircraft were later rejected by the liberal government that succeeded Rafael Franco's. As a result, only a small number of aircraft arrived. The original contract included: 20 FIAT C.R.32 c (only 5 were purchased) 4 FIAT C.R.30B (2 were purchased) 4 Breda Ba.25 (3 were purchased) 3-Bred Ba.25Idro for the Naval Aviation (only 1 was purchased) 21 Caproni AP-1 (7 were purchased) 5 Caproni AP-1Idro-for-Naval Aviation (none were purchased) 3 Caproni Ghibli (2 were purchased) In addition, the government provided pensions to veterans and the war wounded, and delivered decorations and salaries to the regular army. Maintained an adamant stance of not ceding any territory conquered by the Paraguayan army in the Chaco War. Changes to national symbolism Franco claimed the ideals of the Revolution Communards and the Independence Revolution. Franco's government halted construction of the Oratory of Our Lady of the Assumption and established as the National Pantheon of Heroes. The government rehabilitated the 19th-century dictator Francisco Solano López, overturning the decrees that had him an outlaw and declaring him instead an unexampled National Hero. An expedition was sent to recover López' remains from his unmarked grave in Cerro Corá, which were reinterred in the new Pantheon. The government also declared Adolfo Rojas Silva a National Hero; he was the first officer to fall in the Chaco War. March 1 (Heroes' Day) was established as a public holiday. Reorganization of state institutions The Franco government repealed the 1870 Constitution and parliament, and called for a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new and updated Great Charter. The Franco government created two new ministries for Public Health and Agriculture, respectively. It also oversaw the creation of several other new agencies and bodies, including the National Association of the Indigenous, the National Labour Department, the national labour union federation (CNT), the National Women's Union, the Development and Labour Commission, the Civilian Mobilization Committee, the National Association of Ex-Combatants (UPV current Chaco) of which Franco was appointed as the first president,