Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
In LATIN AMERICA
By CASTOR NERVAL.

government she needs today before so
many outstanding problems Of an eco
nomic, political and social character.
LAS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS"
Peruvians last week sentenced former
President Leguia and his three sons to
pay to the Peruvian treasury the sum
Of 25000,000 soles, some $7,625, 900, as
a compensation for Illegal uses of the
national funds and private profits ac-
cumulated through the concession Of
privileges to foreign firms while Senior
Leguia was dictator of Peru.
Charges that Leguia, his relatives and
his closest political friends were profit
ing at the expense of the nations in
terests constituted one Of the main rea-
sons for the latest military coup d'etat
revolutionary junta which succeeded
last July in overthrowing the 11-year-
old regime Of President Leguia was the
establishment Of a So-called tribunal Of
national sanction"
This tribunal was to investigate the
private fortune Of Senior Leguia, his
sons and his political comrades and to
find out how much Of it had been
diverted from the public vaults. The
attracted considerable attention, as 1t
constituted quite an innovation in Latin
American politics.
In general the faults and misdeeds
Of the deposed authorities, whose lack
Of scruples in financial matters, it is
charged, had often started revolutions
in Latin America had been looked
upon with indifference after these had
succeeded The guilty ones usually
walked out elegantly to enjoy on some
distant shores the fortunes piled up I'M
der cover of government positions, their
successors being more concerned with
the thought of getting rid Of them than
with their punishment.
The creation of the tribunal Of ma
tional sanction by the new government
of Peru revealed the awakening of a
keen sense Of responsibility in that
Southern republic. To be frank, little
was at first expected of this tribunal,
which was to investigate the origin of
| the LeguiaS' present properties and
bank accounts. It was believed to be
only a moral measure, adopted to sat
| isfy the popular demand for punishment
of the ousted guilty ruler until the
excitement Of the moment had passed.
The sentence Of the tribunal indi-
Gates, however, that the new authorities
of Peru, to use the vernacular, meant
business" when they ordered the trial
of Senior Leguia and his political asso-
ClHIeS. ne NeIQlCU dIlIlOuIlC6u ldSG
week, after several months of careful
inquiry, in which the testimony of many
witnesses was heard and public docu-
ments, personal letters and bank re-
ceipts had been introduced as further
evidence, convictS Senior Legu1a and his
three sons of embeZZlement OF public
funds and condemns them to refund to
the national treasury the sum of 25,-
900, 900 ,soles. Other persons prominent
! r {eAy 9N,N 1l1
convicted Of illegal acquisition Of
wealth."
To give an idea Of the charges which
have brought about Leguia's conviction,
the cable report of the sentence men
tons two checks for more than 10000
soles each, made out to the former
President by the wife of the conces-
sionary of certain gambling houses in
Lima Just few days after the presi-
Dental franchise for them had been
granted A well known New York firm
| is also mentioned as paying a high
commission to one of Leguia's sons to
avoid the competition of other banking
firms in extending a special credit to
the Peruvian government.
1t is regrettable, as the Peruvian
press points out, that a former Chief
Executive of the country should be con-
victed of mismanagement of public
prevent future manufactures from fol-
| lowing the unfortunate path Of the old
business minded dictator of Peru. Pun
ishment is even harder to forget than
debts.
A HIGHER PAN-AMERICANISM
A large sum Of money, a liberal and
! cultured man and the Baltimore Mu-
/ seu moi Art are three outstanding fac
4 tors in a new and important movement.
Thus a press release from the Pan
/ American Union announces the opening
! in Baltimore on January Is Of the first
/ Pan American exhibition of contempo-
/ rary paintings.
The Secretary of State, Ambassadors
and Ministers from the Latin American
/ republics and other high officials went
! to- Baltimore to inauguratc this exhibit
ton, which has been made possible BY
the generous gait Of N Anonynous hem