420. Editorial Note
The result of the Presidential vote remained disputed for weeks after election day. Haya de la Torre, believing the Peruvian military would not allow him to be elected President, gave his support to Odria’s candidacy. Belaúnde demanded on July 12 that the government establish a tribunal to investigate electoral fraud or face violent insurrection (Airgram A-4 from Lima, July 13; Department of State, Central Files, 723.00/7-1362) On July 16 the military demanded that the government annul the results of the elections prompting President Prado’s cabinet to resign. On July 18 the military arrested the President and established a 12-man junta under the direction of Army General Ricardo Perez Godoy. The junta declared the results of the elections null and void, announced that free and fair elections would be held in Peru as soon as possible, and asked the world community for official recognition. (Airgram A-49 from Lima, July 20; ibid., 723.00/7-2062)
[Page 864]President Kennedy was informed of the coup at his July 18 staff meeting. (Memorandum for the Record, July 18; National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Daily Staff Meetings, May-September 1962) The Department of State announced that day that the United States was suspending diplomatic relations with Peru and was ceasing all but humanitarian assistance to the country. (Department of State Bulletin, August 6, 1962, pages 213-214) Ambassador Loeb was recalled to Washington for consultation on July 26.