Editorial Note
IV. PERU
With regard to the Peruvian revolution which began the night of October 27, 1948 at Arequipa, the Ambassador in Peru (Tittmann) reported in part as follows: (1) in telegram 609, October 29, 9 a. m. that a revolt in the armed forces had broken out in Arequipa on the previous night led by General Manuel Odria, former Minister of Government under President Jose Luis Bustamante y Rivero; (2) in telegram 614, October 29, 11 a. m.: “General feeling is that President Bustamante will endeavor avoid bloodshed and would resign rather than order loyal troops to attack rebels”; (3) in telegram 620, October 29, 4 p. m.: “Embassy received report at noon today that General Odria notified Lima from Arequipa, that President turn government to General Hurtado to assure peaceful attitude troops in Lima military zone. Odria would then come to Lima to take over government”: (4) in telegram 625, October 30 that President Bustamante had left the country by air; (5) in telegram 632, October 30, that General Odria had arrived at Lima from Arequipa and was at the Government Palace that afternoon at 5 p. m.; and (6) in telegram 639, November 2, 1 p. m. that the revolution had been accomplished without firing a single shot, the armed forces were united behind General Odria, and stability of government seemed assured for foreseeable future. (Telegrams 609, 614, 620, 625, and 632 are in file 823.00; 639 in 823.01.)