Diario las Américas., 1958-03-26
Know thv
NeighborI
BY RUIZ

PERU = Within the Spanish
colonial system, which lasted ap-
proximately three centuries, Peru
was Of outstanding Importance, for
during the period Of nearly two
hundred years the powerful vice
royalty established by the Crown
in Lima in 1912, had jurisdiction
over Panama and all the Spanish
territory of South America, except
Venezuela. BY the time of the wars
of independence, Lima had become
the most distinguished and aristo-
cratic colonial capital, and the
chief Spanish stronghold in South
America.
Spain'S administration of PERU,
as in the rest of the colonies, was
extremely centralized and al
though colonial laws were often
just and wise, they were frequent
iy abused by local officials, who
took advantage of the great dis
lance from Spain. The colonists
were also subject to severe eco
nomic and social discrimination.
Trade with countries other than
Spain, and between the colonies
themselves. was prohibited. The
colonies were not permitted to
produce goods competitive with
those of Spain, and "criolloS," or
Spaniards born in America, were
generally ineligible for public of
flee.
Out of these conditions evolved
a strong movement toward polite
al independence which, encourag-
ed by the success of the French
and North American revolutions,
and favored by the circumstances
evolving from Napoleon's invasion
of Spain, crystalized in the revo-
lutions of the early 10th. century.
Because the V~iceroyalty of PERU
was very important to Spain,
strong forces were concentrated
at Lima. Therefore, Peru was late
in revolving and was among the
last of the colonies to be freed
from the Spanish yoke. In spite of
unsuccessful uprising from 1905
on, Peru remained basically unaf-
fected by the revolutionary move
ment until 1920 On that year, Cen
eral Jose de San Martin, who lead
ing the victorious armies of Argen-
tina and Chile had freed those
countries began his invasion of
Peru. The viceroy of Peru eventu-
ally agreed to withdraw his troops
from Lima, and San Martin en-
tered the capital on July IL, 1921;
on the 18th, he raised the Peru.
Wan flag and proclaimed the coun.
try's independence. Strong royal
list forces however, still remained
in the country. and independence
was not yet assured.
San Martin, in a dramatic inter
view at Guayaquil with Simon Bo,
livar, the Great Liberator of
Northern South America, agreed
to withdraw from further partici.
patton in the revolution. Two
years later on December 9, 1924.
Bolivar'S Colombian and Peruvian
forces, under the command of Gen.
Antonio Jose de Sucre, decisively
defeated the royalists at Ayacu.
cho Ferd, completing the enamel.
patton of the colonies.
Following the winning of in.
dependence, the Republic of Peru
had a period of turbulence which
lasted for twenty years. For a
short time Peru was politically
united with Bolivia, forming the
Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation
in 1889 under Santa Cruz, Presi.
dent of Bolivia The most progress
sive of the early presidents of Pc
ri was Ramon Castillo, who held
offices three times between 1845
and 1882
During his administrations, nu.
merous improvements were made
in the country including the in
PRODUCTION Of telegraph and rail
roads, emancipation of the Negro
slaves, and the adoption, in 1860,
of a constitution which remained
in force until 1920. Political disor.
ders followed Castilla's retire.
ment. In 1856, Peru, together with
its allies, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chi
lie, defeated SPANS attempt to re-
gain its lost colonies. In 1879,
Spain finally recognized Peruvian
independence,
Spanish Version Page 3