The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-09-28
WILSON'S PERU
PROTEGE IS WORSE
THAN AUERTA
Recognized BenaIides as Presi-
dent After He Had Obtained
Power In a Sister Republic
by TreaChery and Violence.
ACT DOES NOT SQUARE WITH
SNUG DICTUM IN HIS SPEECH

Latin American Diplomats Amazed
When They Read the Presidents Ex-
pIanaton of His Mexican PoIicy-In-
formed Their Governments That Mr..
Wilson's Personal Whims Doubtless
Were to Be His Guides In Conducting
This Governments Latin American
Policy.
Latin American diplomats are amaz-
ed at the statement in President VIII
sons speech of acceptance: $50 long
as the power of recognition rests with
me, the government of the United
States will 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 and
of his Mexican policy. Yet the records
show that President Wilson has de-
liberately violated this dictum in sew
eral instances since the case of Huerta
arose.
The most fragrant example was the
presidents recognition extended to
Colonel Benavides, head of the revolu-
tionary government in Peru. in Febru-
ary, 1914 His government was found
ed on assassination, established by as
sassinatiOn and had no vestige of con-
stitutional authority back of it. 1t
came into power on Feb. 4, 1914, when
Colonel Benavides led the garrison
troops against the national palace at
Lima, imprisoned President Billing
hurst and assassinated the minister Of
war and all others who opposed the
coup detat.
More FIagrant Than Mexico.
Minister McNIillin reported these
facts fully to Washington and assum-
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 a much more fragrant violation of
the spirit of popular government. HUI
erta had Madero and Vice President
Suarez imprisoned, but he became
president of Mexico under provisions
of the constitution providing for the
succession of the minister of foreign
affairs upon the disability of the pres
ident. Huerta's accession to the pres
idency 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 con-
stitution Of the country and were not
confirmed by the Peruvian congress.
His sole backing was junta of con-
spiratOrs, which forced their will on
the unapproving people by means of
ready rifle bullets. Under these cir
cumstances Minister McMillin natural
ly assumed that President Wilson
would have nothing to do with Bena-
yides and his iunta. The president
shortly before this had stated in a
speech at Mobile. Ala: 1--WE must fol-
low the course of high principle, not
expediency, no matter what the pres
SIRE. To do otherwise would be un-
true to ourselves
Envoy Is Surprised.
Mr.. McNIillin was therefore mildly
surprised when he 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 sim
ply said that "expediency dictated the
recognition of the revolutionary gov
ernment Of Peru" He told his advisers
that he had not liked the personality of
Billinghurst. He was chagrined also
with the news that Billinghurst had in
tended to dissolve the Peruvian con-
gress, which the President said would
have been an unconstitutional act
Latin American diplomats at the time
were astounded to learn of the PFesi-
dents action in Peru. They found that
it was impossible to know where the
president stood on any matter of prin-
ciple and Informed their governments
that the Presidents personal whims
doubtless were to be his guidance In
conducting this governments Latin
American policy. ~ "a