The Washington herald., 1913-09-22
LEGUIA PRAISES
Wilson's POLICY
Former President Of Peru
Says Nonintervention
Is Right.
RUERTA. HELD MURDERER
Thinks that Method of Doing Away
with Madero Has Deceived
No One.

New York Sept. 2l.-Very different from
the popular notion of an eXiled South
American ruler was Augusta Leguis, eX-
President of Peru. as he sat in his
Louis Seize sitting-room at the Ritz Carl
ton Hotel today and answered questions
put TO him by an interviewer. He ueith-
Cr tore his hair nor paced up and down
the apartment, nor did he even exhibit
wounds received in fighting for his I'M
grateful country. He simply sat and
talked as the stolidest Scotchman might
have talked, refusing to discuss only
Peruvian politics.
The only time when his manner took
on any degree of warmth was when he
spoke OF his friendship with William Jen-
nings Bryan, and when he denounced the
behavior of CiprianO Castro, ex-dictator
of Venezuela.
ANY government is better than a revo-
lution," he said in this connection. with
the nearest approach to vehemence that
he reached.
EX-President Leguia was ruler of Peru
from 1905 to 1872, having been succeeded
year ago this month by Guillermo Bill
linghurst, the present President In the
past summer he was arrested at a time
when Tioting was going on in Lima. on
a charge of conspiring against the gov
crnment. and was presently released on
the condition Of his leaving the country
AT once He arrived in New York yester-
day, and after a short stay in this coun-
try, will sail for Europe.
Talks of Mexican Problem.
Leguia discussed at some length the at
titude OF the administration toward Mex
leo and toward Latin America in general
He spoke i'm terms of praise of the course
taken by President Wilson, "as far as he
had been able To follow it
Il am sure than noninterventiOn is the
best course the United States government
could pursue i'm the present situation he
said. 1t seems to me that President
Wilson has been most sensible. He has re-
quested, among other things, that Huertl
should call popular election Immediately
and that Huerta himself should run
'andidate for the Presidency. What could
ne more reasonable than that
DO you think Huerta would be elected
i'm such a Case?" was then asked.
No. | do not was the prompt reply.
II cannot speak with authority on the
SCbjeCt. but in Peru we have felt that
Huerta's : rule was founded on assassina-
ton. pure and simple do not think
that the game of taking Madero to the
IrisOn and his being killed on the way
there deceived any one. | think that
Huerta will have the sense to come
around and obey the request of Presi-
lent Wilson before long. But l don't
think that il will ever come to warfare
with the United States. The friendly
feeling of the Mexican people at large
rUi this country is too strong to allow
that"
The ex-President was then asked about
Horiiriu Diaz, and whether there was any
chance Of his being called back.
United states a Friend.
"PorHriu Diaz ruled the country in
peace for twenty-five years. LeCuia an
swered. In that he has shown himself
tu be an ADLER ruler than Huerta. Yes,
think that he could cope with the
resent situation better than Huerta. /
iun't know. I'm sure whether he will be
asked to come back or not"
The conversation then shifted to Latin
american affairs in general Leguia said
that all the South and Central American
rIates looked to the United States as
icisl effects Of the Monroe Doctrine. He
nee mentioned the fact that the South
Americas are very much alike
DO you think. then asked the inter
vi, weT. that the present state of affairs
ia Mexico could ever be duplicated III
your country
I.guia WINGED somewhat at this ques-
ton. and paused before replying. u think
that Peru is much better organized. 20
litically, than Mexico" he said at last.
German Colony ImpOssibIe.
The eN-President said he did not think
that the United States would ever abar-
con the policy Of the Monroe Doctrine
He SAID he was sure that if a European
lower now attempted to acquire land
IN this hemisphere. that it would end in
d war with the United States. When
asked if he had heard that Germany We :
anxious to establish a colony in South