Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-10

New provisional alignments in Peru
which follow the overthrow of Col.
Sanchez Cerro, after only six months
as provisional head of the country, in
Spire confidence here. The selection Of
the chief of the Supreme Court as pro-
visional executive and his support by
naval interests are looked upon as likely
to lead to effective constitutional gov
eminent.
ITO all appearances" states the Hart
ford Daily Courant, "the activity Of
the navy in the present situation in
Peru seems beneflcent rather than
otherwise. While, in its manifesto, the
navy yields to none in its devotion to
the principles of the last revolution, 1t
wisely points out that more fighting Is
not required to uphold them. In all
probability, no loss is sustained by the
retirement of Col. Sanchez Cerro as
provisional president in favor Of the
chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
From the moment that he few down
on the links Of the Country Club at
Lima, after leaving the garrison at
Arequipa in the south to take over
the reins of office. he gave the i'm
preston OF an adventures rather than
a statesman. His damboyant state
ments since have done nothing TO
change the opinion then gained. What
Peru manifestly needs Is leadership
which will promote political harmony
in the interests of economic recovery.
Whether or not the navy, which has
apparently taken control, can supply
it remains for the future to determine"
"Cerro was accepted as provisional
chief" recalls the San Antonio Express,
looking back upon the record of the
defeated administration. with the I'M
derstanding that a constitutional gov
eminent soon would be assembled to
arrange for fair elections throughout
the country. His followers generally
believed he would not seek to retain
Office after the republics return to con-
stitutional government"
when the naval officers join the
army officers In demanding that Cerro
get out" as pictured by the Cleveland
Plain Dealer, "he bows to the inevitable
and turns over the seals, or whatever
it is that represents authority in Peru,
to Ricardo Leoncio Elias, chief justice
of the Supreme Court. The Peruvian
navy is tiny, consisting of four second
hand and slightly rusted warships. But
it has sunk president. Cerro had been
provisional president six months. but
they have been such stormy months
the period doubtless seemed longer. He
is soldier, chosen by military junta
which ouSted President Leguia last Au-
gust. Leguia had been q virtual die
tator for IL years, and fairly efficient
one. He accomplished much material
improvement. Everything went well
until the depression hit Peru. Such
things are even worse for dictators
than they are for constitutional presi-
dents. Leguia fell. He is still in jail
awaiting trial for long list of high
crimes and misdemeanorS, the chief of
them being failure"
"The new turn" as viewed by the
Buffalo Evening News, lis distinctly a
reassertion Of power by the established
order in the government. With the
chief justice of the Supreme Court as
provisional president and the heads of
the navy and the army as his principal
supporters, this movement is an UNI
mistakable rally against the disturb
ance of the old stability. The ambi-
tons of radicals so far as these may
enter into the situation, will appear
as a reaction against the new regime.
The displaced provisional president,
Sanchez Cerro, though he was handi-
capped by Communist as well as Con-
sentative revolt, was OF more radical
type than are his successors"
X X y
During the revolt in Brazil last
year." says the New York Evening
Post, when the federal government
found itself attacked by rebel forces in
both the north and the south, the
sudden intervention of a military junta
in Rio de Janeiro brought about the
downfall of President Washington Luis
and resulted in a new government
which made peace with all the warning
factions. Apparently it was with the
hope of ending Peru's civil war by
similar tactics that naval junta in
that country forced the resignation of
Provisional President Sanchez Cerro
could have been no more competent,