Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume V, Microfiche Supplement, American Republics

PE–20. Memorandum from the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Murphy)¹

Washington, December 18, 1958

SUBJECT

• Deteriorating Situation in Peru

This is to call your attention to the deteriorating situation in Peru, where the vacillating government of President Prado faces growing unrest. It has exerted no real leadership and has lost all of the prestige which it originally enjoyed for giving Peru a democratic administration after eight years of military dictatorship.

Lima despatches report Ambassador Achilles’ serious concern over increasing disintegration of the political and social fabric. Signs of this disintegration include the seizure of property by landless persons, near-chaos in most universities, a bitter and prolonged doctors strike, and public demonstrations reflecting growing disrespect for law.

Similar situations in Peru’s past have usually led to military coups, and the Ambassador believes the likelihood of such a development in the near future cannot be excluded. Although high military officials appear determined to maintain constitutional processes, Peruvian military coups usually come from the middle ranks rather than the high command. Looking further into the future, the Ambassador does not exclude the possibility of a bloody social uprising of the poverty-stricken highland Indians unless the ruling elite takes far more action to raise the masses’ standard of living than it has shown any intention of doing.

While communist activity has so far played a relatively minor role in Peru, the field for its development is becoming increasingly fertile.

This potentially explosive situation comes at a time when our lead-zinc quotas have severely exacerbated U.S.-Peruvian relations. The Ambassador foresees no improvement in Peru until that nation begins to experience a greater measure of prosperity and of firm governmental leadership.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 723.00/12–1858. Confidential. Drafted by Pringle. The source text bears the following note of December 19 from Murphy to Rubottom: “As Achilles is coming up for the holidays, let us have a discussion with him about this.” No record of the projected discussion was found in Department of State files.