Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-10-07
Recognized Benavides as Presi-
dent After He Had Obtained
Power in a Sister Republic
by Treachery and Violence.
ACT DOES NOT SQUARE WITH
SNUG DlCTUM IN HIS SPEECH
Latin American Diplomats Amazed
When They Read the Presidents
Explanation OF His Mexican Policy
Informed Their Governments That
MIR. Wilson's Personal Whims
Doubtless Were to Be His Guides
In Conducting This Governments
Lstin-AmerIcsn Policy.

ed at the statement In President VIII
sons speech of acceptance $50 long
rs the power of recognition rests with
me the Government az the United
States viii refuse to extend the hand
OF welcome TO any one who obtains
power in a sister republic by treachery
and violence"
This is the Presidents explanation
of his refusal TO recognize Huerta aud
Of his Mexican policy. Yet the reg
ords show that President Wilson has
deliberately violated this dictum in
several instances since the case OF
Huerta arose.
The most fragrant example was the
Presidents recognition extended to
Col. BeDavides, head ~ the reyoIu-
tionary Government in Peru, in Fehru.
ary, 1914. His Government WAS found
ed on assassination, established by
assassination and had no vestige Of,
constitutional authority back OF 1t. Ii
came into power on February 4, 1914,
when Col, Benayides led the garrison
troops against the natiohat paiace at
Lima. imprisoned President Billing
hurst and assassnated the Minister
of War and all others who opposed
the coup d'etat
More fragrant Tina Mexico.
Minister McaffiTin ftIlorted these
facts fully to Washington aud ASSUME
ed that this Government would de-
cline to sanction the newly establish
ed regime. The case was identical
with the Huerta case in Mexico, ex-
cept much more fragrant violation
of the spirit of popular government
Huerta had Madero. and Vice-Presi-
dent Suarez imprisoned, hut he be-
came President of Mexico under pro-
visions OF the constitution providing
for the succession of the Minister OF
Foreign Affairs upon the disability of
the President. Huerta's accession TO
the Presidency was confirmed by the
Mexican Congress
Benavides came into power simply
by killing those who opposed him
His acts had no basis whatever In the
constitution of his country aud were
not confirmed by the Peruvian Con
gress. His sole backing was a junta
of conspirators who forced their
will on the unapprOying people by
means of ready rife bullets Under
these circumstances Minister McMl-
lin naturally assumed that Presi-
dent Wilson would have nothing to
do with Benavides and his iunta.
The President shortly before this had
stated in speech at Mobile, Ala.
"We must follow the course OF high
principle. not expedency, no matter
what the pressure. 70 do otherwise
would be untrue to ourselves"
Envoy is Surprised
Mr.. McMillin was therefore mildly
surprised when ne was instructed by
President Wilson to call on the newly
established BenavideS and graciously
confer the recognition OF the United
States Government upon him
In explaining this the President
simply said that "expedfency dictated
theb recognition of the revolutionary
government of Peru" He told his all
yisers that he had not liked the per
sopality of BillinghurSt, lie was cha.
grined also with the news that BIZ
linghurst had Intended to dissolve
the Peruvian Congress, which the
President said would have been an
unconstitutional act
Latin American diplomats at the
time We're astonished 10 learn OF the
Presidents action in Peru. They
found that 1t was impossible to know
where the President stood on any mat
ter of principle, and Informed their
governments that the Presidents per-
sonal whims doubtless were TO be his
| guidance in conducting this Govern
ment's Latin-Americau policy.