823.001L52/89: Telegram
The Chargé in Peru (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:24 p.m.]
183. My 182, September 1, 6 p.m. Mr. Leguia and Juan Leguia are installed in a house by themselves on San Lorenzo Island which is passable. Hospital beds, furniture, rugs, et cetera, are being sent out by the British-American Hospital which should make Mr. Leguia fairly comfortable; also special food, et cetera. I understand that he is being treated with every show of respect by his jailers. Dr. MacCornack, who is permitted to visit Mr. Leguia any time, is going out again in a day or two when I shall know more certainly treatment being accorded the ex-President.
I interpret the Department’s 95, August 29, 2 p.m., as amended by its 96, August 30, noon, and other telegrams from the Department giving me discretion to make representation in behalf of Mr. Leguia to be based upon considerations of his personal safety and not upon his comfort except if treatment accorded him would be harmful to his health. I entirely concur in this point of view. The Grow and Sutton cases and other difficulties of a purely American character which I feel likely will arise may necessitate our bringing all influence to bear on the authorities here without using up our ammunition on the President’s case unless essential for the protection of his life or health. Unless otherwise instructed I shall not communicate, therefore, with the local authorities in the sense of my 172, August 29, midnight, except in the eventualities set forth above.
The Brazilian Chargé d’Affaires informs me that the Cuban Government at the solicitation of the Cuban Minister here is communicating with the other Latin American countries to the end that similar [Page 743] representation be made individually by them to the Peruvian authorities for permission for Mr. Leguia to leave the country. I understand the United States was not brought into this because the Cuban Minister here felt that we had enough troubles of our own as indicated above. I am being asked, however, to sit in on a meeting shortly to be held here by the Pan American representatives to discuss this matter.
As indicated above I am doubtful of the advisability of our joining in any formal representation to the Peruvian authorities for the purpose of trying to persuade them to send Mr. Leguia away, desirable as this might be for him personally and politically expedient as it would be for the new regime to have him out of the country and thus obviate a likely source of reaction against them. If it becomes necessary for the Embassy to take a position in this matter we might maintain solidarity by making a representation in the sense of my 172, August 29, midnight.
Instructions requested.