As months passed, Carías moved slowly but steadily to strengthen his hold on power. He gained the support of the banana companies through opposition to strikes and other labor disturbances. He strengthened his position with domestic and foreign financial circles through conservative economic policies. Even in the height of the depression, he continued to make regular payments on the Honduran debt, adhering strictly to the terms of the arrangement with the British bondholders and also satisfying other creditors. Two small loans were paid off completely in 1935. Political controls were instituted slowly under Carías. The Communist Party of Honduras (Partido Comunista de Honduras—PCH) was outlawed, but the PLH continued to function, and even the leaders of a small uprising in 1935 were later offered free air transportation should they wish to return to Honduras from their exile abroad. At the end of 1935, however, stressing the need for peace and internal order, Carías began to crack down on the opposition press and political activities. Meanwhile, the PNH, at the president's direction, began a propaganda campaign stressing that only keeping Carías in office could give the nation continued peace and order. The constitution, however, prohibited immediate reelection of presidents.
As mOnthS pasSeD, caríAs mOvEd sLowlY bUt steadIly to stREngThen his hOld on PoWEr. he GaINed the SUPpoRt Of tHE bananA COmpAnIes tHroUgh opPosition tO strIKEs And otHer labor dIsturBAnCes. hE sTreNgtHeNeD hIS positioN with domestIC and forEigN financiaL CIrCLes througH Conservative EconomiC poLIcIes. eveN In The heigHt OF the DePreSsiON, he contInued To Make RegUlAr paymeNtS oN the HOnduRan Debt, aDhering stRictLy to ThE TermS oF tHe ARrangemeNT wITh ThE bRitiSH bonDHoldERs and Also SatiSFYiNg OTher CreDiToRs. TWO smAll loanS WEre paId OFF comPlETElY in 1935. pOlitiCal coNtRoLs wEre instituTED slowly undeR carías. the CoMmuNIst parTY of HoNduras (PArtiDo COmUNIsTa De honduraS—PCh) wAs ouTlawed, buT the plh coNtInuEd tO functIoN, And even the LeadeRs of a SmaLl upriSIng in 1935 were lAter offerEd fREE aIr traNSpOrTATiON sHoulD ThEy wish to return tO hoNDuRAs from Their exiLe abroad. At the enD oF 1935, howevER, stRessINg tHe NeeD for peaCe AND INTernAl oRDer, caRíaS BegaN to CRack doWn oN the oPposition PrEsS aND politiCaL acTIvITies. MeaNwHiLe, thE pNH, aT the pResiDEnt'S dIrecTion, began a pRopaganDa CamPaIgn StressiNg that only keepinG carías in OfFiCE coUld giVE the nation contInUeD PEaCE aNd ordeR. tHE coNstitutIon, hoWEveR, pRoHiBited immeDiate reelECtION of pResIdeNts.