Office of the Historian

823.00/333

The Chargé in Peru (Smith) to the Secretary of State

Lima, October 15, 1919.
[Received November 11.]
No. 408

Sir: Referring to Department’s telegram of October 7, 5 p.m., and Legation’s October 14, 10 a.m., I have the honor to inform you that I informally communicated to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the attitude that I was instructed to take should I attend the inauguration of the President.

Together with the Military Attaché of this Legation I attended the inauguration of the Provisional President on Sunday October 12th, on which occasion he took the oath as Constitutional President.

I have received today a communication from the Foreign Office, a translation of which is enclosed.

I am [etc.]

Wm. Walker Smith
[Enclosure—Translation]

The Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs (Porras) to the American Chargé (Smith)

Lima, October 13, 1919.
No 39

Mr. Chargé d’Affaires: I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that yesterday Señor Augusto B. Leguía took the Constitutional oath to exercise the duties of President of the Republic, which duties he had been discharging since July 4th last.

The Council of Ministers which has acted with Señor Leguía will continue its functions, having added as Minister of Marine, Captain don Juán Manuel Ontaneda.

[Page 740]

In communicating the above facts to Your Excellency, I am pleased to state that my Government is pursuing its avowed intention of strengthening the friendly relations which exist between our two countries.

I avail myself [etc.]

M. F. Porras