Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-26
Exit President Leguia.

Once again, certainly for more than
the hundredth time ct least. . Latin
American regime has been overthrow
by military revolution. Peru is the
latest to invoke 1t as q means Of rid
ding itself of a dictator President and
setting UP in his place government
headed by man more to the liking Of
the army clique. DR.. Augusta Leguia,
who himself seized power at Lima, In
1919, by coup d'etat, Is today at sea
in the Southern Pacific, the deposed
and exiled victim of the same system
which vaulted him into authority. He
knows now that the revolutionary leop-
ard in South America does not change
its spots.
Leguia's administration was marked,
on the whole, by eleven years of Peru
Wan progress. Like many dictatorships,
it was 3 more or less benevolent one
and had for It's support the bayonets Of
the army. But President Leguia's peace
policy toward Chile, over the ancient
Tacna-Arica controversy, never set
agreeably on the militarist chest, which
heaved for war instead Of arbitration
and compromise. The agreement which
was finally ratified on August 4, giving
Tacna to Peru and africa to Chile, I'M
der fixation Of a new frontier, seems to
have spurred the Peruvian army mall
contents into desperate hostility.
During the late week end they con-
fronted Leguia with an accomplished
fact in the form of military revolt
throughout the southern provinces. IN
der the leadership Of Lieut.. Col. Sanchez
Cerro, commander Of the garrison at
Arequipa, the thriving metropolis of the
disloyal area, matters plunged to a
crisis, and yesterday the President,
acknowledging that discretion Ia the
better part Of valoF, abdicated, under
guarantee Of safe conduct aboard q
Peruvian cruiser. Thus closes, as
Leguia himself observed at the moment
Of his involuntary departure, another
chapter in Peru's history"
Dispatches report that Lima and the
country at large have succumbed to Q
paroxysn OF rejoicing over Leguia's
downfall. Long live liberty!" the
crowds shouted as the army junta set
up government headed by Gen. Man
uel Ponce and proclaimed Col. Cerro
the national hero. Latin American
regimes conceived in revolution and
born to military coups d'etat do not
always survive. Counter-revolutien
have been known to develop quite as
unexpectedly. Peru, by the law of aver
age, is probably headed for good deal
Of turmoil.
The interest Of the United States In
these recurring Latin American disor-
ders is profound, though indirect. It
rests primarily on an unselfish desire
for the peace, tranquility and PROS
perity Of all our neighbors to the south
There is a reluctance at Washington to
recognize governments spawned in
army revolts, but, as a practical meas
ure, "the Colossus of the North" is &C
customed to face realities and accept
the regimes that hold authority. even
when 1t has been unconstitutionally
usurped.
The phase of events in Peru which
must cause most concern here is the
possibility that the militarists just en-
throned at Lima may embroil Peru In
war with Chile. That would be a catas-
trophic climax TO the long and patient
effort, in which the United States
played so effective part, forever to
remove the Alsace-Lorraine of Latin
America from the domain of strife.