Evening star., 1927-11-12
Peru Issues Viewed.
Writer Challenges Statement o'
Mr.. Barreda.

To the Editor Of The Star'
AS an impartial observer, recently
returned from prolonged visit TO
Peru, l have read with considerable
surprise Mr.. Felipe Barreda's attack
on the present administration in that
country, using Ambassador Poindex-
ter's talk in the University Club as
foil for the purpose-an attack
which appears in your issue OF NO
vember under the caption, PERU
Wan Lawyer Denies Prosperity.
To any one familiar with conditions
prevailing at present in Peru 1t would
seem as though Mr.. Barreda 8 sprlt
of partisanship had quite got the
better of his sense OF fairness ana
even of good judgment.
Mr.. Barreda, doubtless carried away
by his personal feelings, omits to give
the background of this "absenteeism :;
he likewise omits to state that Mr.
Leguia was duly elected President by
an overwhelming majority, a TACT
which was recognized by the then
President, Mr.. Pardo. Indeed. 1T Is
we'll known that this acknowledgment
of the situation by the former Presl'
dent, which became known to the
State Department, may be said to
have been. If not the chief. at least
one Of the important contributing
causes for the not long delayed recog'
milton of Mr.. Leguia's government by
the United States.
Reyerting to the charge of lab
senteeism," Mr.. Barreda also omlts
to state that Mr.. Leguia made over
lures to the defeated party, tending to
secure it's cooperation in the work OF
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT which
we're uncompromisingly turned down
in the expectation, 1t Is said, OF caus-
ing embarrassment to the new ad-
ministration and obstructing Its pro-
gram. The Boots and Saddle" almost
Immediately sounded by the party
and the voluntary exodus of its most
prominent members We're the fore.
runners of this state of ''absenteeism,
which there took birth and might
very properly be considered as merely
a political maneuver intended to de-
prive the new administration or as
Sistance.
Mr.. Leguia, seeing his advances re-
jected. took the matter philosophlcally
enough and decided to govern without
the 'absentees." The measure of his
success, apart from the concrete re-
suits which everywhere strike the
visitor returning after an absence. Is
apparent, too, from the virulence OF
the attacks which are launched
periodically, upon the most shadowy
pretexts. against Mr.. Leguia person.
ally and his administration by the
"absentees," who would seem to be
incapable of forgiving him for having
been able to succeed without their
cooperation, and, what Is the hitterer
thought, Of having done surprisingly
well.
Mr.. Barreda omits to state, or has
| overlooked, the fact Of the recent visit
to Peru u926.27) of Mr.. Felipe Pardo,
! brother of the former Executive, for
the purpose Of attending to business
| matters connected with the interests
of his family, which is the owner Of
| large sugar plantations in the north.
| Mr.. Pardo was able to travel wherever
he wished and satisfactorily complete
| his business transactions without the
| slightest interference. On his arrival
| i'm Peru and on landing, he was greet
ed by an aide.de-camp, sent specially
| for that purpose by the President.
/ happened to be In Peru at the time
and was personally cognizant of the
| incident. 1t must be confessed that
| this courteous treatment and the
complete liberty enjoyed by Mr.. Pardo
| during his stay accord very i'll with
the picture drawn by Mr.. Barreda OF
| the character both of President
| Leguia and of his administration.
Mr.. Barreda's argument respecting
the rise of the public debt Is eco
nomically unsound. 1t would rather
seem to be a favorably tangible proof
| of the progress of the country and
of the increasing confidence in Peru.
Wan credit by the lending nations.
of the increasing confidence In PERU
Wan government of keeping the
public debt stagnating at the same
| figure at which it stood In 1919. he
| would then, indeed, have presented
a more convincing indictment of poor
administrative ability.
Mr.. Barreda speaks deprecatingly
of the opening up Of few avenues
and AismisseA with this short allu.