Evening star., 1933-05-01
IN PERU
MAN OF EXPERIENCE
Washington Regards Swear.
ing in of Benavides as
the Logical Step.
BY the Associated Press.

The selection Of Gen. Oscar Bena-
vides as Provisional Peruvian president.
as result of the assassination of
President Sanchez Cerro, was regarded
in diplomatic circles here today as a
logical step.
At the same time, the Latin Ameri-
can diplomats were speculsting as to
the possible effect of President Cerro's
assassination upon the hostilities be-
tween Peru and Colombia over posses
sion Of the port of Leticia.
Benavides Is known in Washington
as a military man of broad experience
An anti-LeguiSta. he spent years of
exile in Europe and came from his post
as Minister in London recently to take
supreme charge of the Peruvian army
ard navy in the conflict with Colom-
bla.
He visited briefly in Washington en-
route to confer with Ambassador
Freyre Santandcr.
The general is known here as con-
servative and moderate man. and to
him have been attributed declarations
that the political prisoners of Peru un
der Sanchez Ccrro should be released
Many of these are ApristaS who have
not been favorable to the conduct of
the war with Colombia over possession
of the Amazon port of Leticia.
Formerly President.
BenavideS has previously been PreSi-
dent having been chosen during the
early years of the World War. follow
ing upon the overthrow of President
Billinghurst.
The general spent some time as an
exile in Ecuador. Before being Minis
ter in London, he was Minister In
Madrid
Information in Washington is that
VenavideS did not resign as Minister
to London when he went to Lima this
time. but asked leave of absence to
lend his country the benefit of his nil
itary experience.
The effects of the assassination on
the hostile dispute over the port of
Laticia caused much speculation here.
The United States had joined with
the League of Nations and the other
American republics in condemning the
late Sanchez Cerro's course in the con-
troversy. His government supported
Peruvian nationals in the holding Of
corridor in spite of recognition by
Solomon -Lozano treaty of 1922 had ac-
quired permanent title to the territory
Brazil offered to turn the territory
back to Colombia and offered good off,
ces for negotiations to settle the con-
troversy but Sanchez Cerro refused. de-
rlanding instead that Brazil turn the
territory back to Peru if negotiations
failed
Offer Of League.
The League Of Nations later pro-
posed to neutralize Colombian forces
in the corridor and thus patrol +he
territory pending settlement of the dis
pute, urging Peru to retire. This Sam
chez Cerro also rejected.
More recently Colombia rejected
league proposal to send an entircl;
neutral force to ratrol the territory and
has steadily progressed with military
movements to force Peru from the
corridor
Colombia and Peru severed relations
some months ago after fight between
Peluvians and Cclombians at Tarapaca,
in the Colombian section of the terri
tory. Feeling in both countries reached
fever heat and a mob sacked the Colom-
bian legation at Lima. driving the Min
lister and his family to seek refuge in
the Chilean legation there.
This Minister DR.. Fabio Lozano. jr.,
now in Washington. said recently
Sanchez Cerro informed him prior to
the severance of diplomatic relations
that he would not heed the opinions of
the United States, Brazil or the League
of Nations.
While none cared to speak for QUO
tation tonight. many of Latin Americas
diplomatic observers have been known
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