823.00/302½: Telegram
The Chargé in Peru (Smith) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 12, 12.10 a.m.]
Late at night Tuesday Provisional Government felt obliged to take drastic measures against proposed plot to assassinate the Provisional President, claimed to have been known by the Government for some time. The measures taken were the arrest and imprisonment of a number of the adherents of the Pardistos including Luis Pardo, brother of ex-President; Ramon Aspillaga, brother of former [Page 737] candidate for the Presidency; Felipe Barreda, cousin and Carlos Heeren, brother-in-law of the ex-President; also four army officers and a number of others. The Government claims to have done this in order to nip the conspiracy in the bud to prevent disorder and bloodshed.
Commencing early Wednesday morning there were large crowds of Leguia’s adherents marching through the streets condemning plotters and approving Leguia. During the evening the mob increased and became more violent. About seven o’clock it attacked homes of Antonio Miro Quesada, editor Comercio and former President of the Senate; Augusto Durand, owner of Prensa; Antero Aspillaga, candidate for President, doing great damage to furniture and in the case of Miro Quesada burning the house almost to the ground. After venting their spite on these they marched to the newspaper Prensa breaking in doors, doing great damage to machinery, so much so that paper will not be able to appear for some time. From there they went to Comercio where they did damage to outside of building but only slightly smashing up some of the machinery. The paper was able to issue a small edition this morning.
All these acts apparently were a protest against the attempt to overthrow the present administration. Every one including the President regrets the incident as they realize it will injure the reputation of Peru before the world.