In 1939, the FIDE GA met in Buenos Aire during the Olympiad. Because of the uncertainty regarding a possible World War, Paraguay’s delegate came up with a motion to replace the FIDE President, Dr Rueb, with the President of the Argentina Chess Federation.
The motion was accepted by a huge majority of the delegates but never implemented. Eighty-two years later, the President of the Argentina Chess Federation asked FIDE to rewrite history and list Mr De Muro as the second FIDE President. An investigation has been made by the FIDE Historical Committee, which has concluded that according to FIDE Statutes from that time, the FIDE GA had the power to take the decision to replace Dr Rueb.
Before taking the final decision, the FIDE Council has asked the FIDE Office to publish all documents concerning the above-mentioned case. If anyone has unpublished documents or has a justified counter-opinion, please contact the FIDE Office at at office@fide.com by January 10, 2023.
Here is a full list of related documents:
Letter to the FC by Willy Iclicki (docx)
Investigation by Sergio Ernesto Negri and Juan Sebastián Morgado (docx)
Letter by Herman Hamers (docx)
General Assembly Agenda 1939 (jpg)
Letter to Federations 1939 (jpg)
Mario Petrucci FADA President Letter to the FIDE President (pdf)
Chapter 34 – September 1939 (jpg)
Augusto De Muro – President (jpg)
