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7/2/1956 - Peruvian Elections and Land Reform by Richard W. Patch

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS RWP General Orbegoso Peruvian Elections Lima Pard Land Reform July Mr Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affair Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers The sound first Peruvian election eight years beinnin subside murmur rumor counter rumor occasional staccato sounds outrage rihtousness precipitated recently proclaimed strikes sweeping country Constitutional uarantees civil rights suspended Wednesday June after score streetcars buses wrecked protestin raise fares The suspension conveniently permitted arrest numbers leaders APRA Progressive Social Movement MSP parties But these political leaders already being released brick peniten tiary which sauarely center Lima The thirty constitutional suspension conveniently expires hours before inauguration president Of republic July The president apparently Manuel Prado previously President Pard former president The close runner accordin official count Fernando Beladnde cried fraud privately shows figures gathered representatives various polling places which Prado Beladnde withdrawn party representatives National Electoral Jury effectively stopped official tabulation returns which Prado according Beladnde discriminatory nulliicatlon large blocks votes heavily favorin Belande Beladnde threatened election officials persist their discrimination followers One observer wryly comments Yes armed bananas One threatenin aspects overall situation persistent rumor number strikes employees distance teleohone cable textile workers others which declared sympathy strike International Petroleum Com0any workers would become eneral strike privatl employeworkers However overnment hands military leaders while out0in President Manuel Odria Naval NGspital broken stron stand yesterday issuln Huoreme Decree supporting position International Petroleum Company rejecting demands workers Leaders Central Onion Central Sindical debated continuin strike whether enerl assemblv associat anizations clock mornin However oritv leaders ontinuin strike would advised ostlcularlv avoid Dolitical Imoutations which incressin attached strike because suspension stitutional rights would Detroit overnment arbitrary action aainst union Finally union suspended eneral strike privately employed workers threat paralyzin eneral stooae disappeared In short broad significance violence Tuesday strikes Imorisonment political leaders suspension constitutional rights clear possibility seems which would Drevent Manuel Prado becomln President July basis official tabulation election returns The eventuality eneral stoppage which would force present succeedin overnment terms workers demands failed materialize The probabilities substs ntial Perd oeacefully New York Times cslled moderate atorshIo Manuel Odria markedlv dissimilar democracy Manuel Prsdo But there least aspect presidential campaign clear lastin significance It concerns Jection csmosin issue which carefully avoided decades Th abruot serious introduction reform frank issue oolitlcal country cannot influence outlook overnent cause repercussions rosoective elections Fernando Beladnde youthful presidential timber oolitical experience He architect fession appeared Oresidentlal eleventh principal political strength stems support versity students officers somewhat amorphous reform party Progressive Social Movement Not mation Vctor Radl Hsya Torre APRA early Per combination vouthful forces unite effective oolitical instrument Now leaders APA middle They anoarently Improved Orosoect their oartlcioation overnment oondin overtures suoort Manul Pdo switchlnc secret oarty votin orders overnment aooroved candi ernando Lavalle Prdo The votin orders posedly secret because APRA outlawd nartv since Odria power Aorista overnment Lugs Bustamante Ivero suooort would invalidated didcy oerson supported This prevent wooin APRA bhalf chosen candidate Lavalle RWP19 It prevent Prado nromlsln lesllzation outlawed parties return Apristas votes individuals Aprista leaders first supported Lavalle understandln would legalize party withdrew support refused tentions exDliclt On Friday before election Sunday June I Prsdo stated nationwide broad would legalize outlawed parties On Saturday APWA members received directions Prado Many APWA members Prado others seemingly youner members voted Beladnde program reform Thus APRA influential Prsdo overnment machinations identi fication traditional political figures legiance youner members Fernando Beladnde flair forensics acute sense dramatic Imaginative poram MSP capture support disaffected Apistas support women unaffiliated either APRA traditional parties ho__c parties traditional programs The Beladnde MaP reform program reform Land reform phrase unoleasant associations Peruvians conscious present economic disorganization neihboin Bolivia which initiated thorou ararian reform Arguments reform notably convince those Peruvians identify continued economic stability preservation existln tenure patterns However there another Peruvians whleh includes owners large mechanized haciendas coastal strip which believes survlvln oatterns peasantry obligatory unpaid indians return usufruct plots leasin haciendas simply secure labor indians attached economically inefficient socially indefensible This would prefer initiate orderly reform program benefit oercent population which called indigenous lives largely outside sphere national economic cultural holocaust which could ensue should indians power Bolivia enforce their demands A nlhts I talked Belande Fernando Beladnde second command Celso Pastor Beladnde personal representative before National Electoral Jury included youner lieutenants Juan Madalenoitia Edward Ronalds nephew owners large hacienda Peruvian north coast These exolained their projected reform nroram aimed first distribution extensive areas sierra which uncultivated which inefficiently cultivated latifundios estates farmed without indian peasants In CaeS owners would compensated taken RWP In second stage reform program would organize mechanized economically efficient haciendas coast production cooperativeS The former owner would retain sufficient would equitably distributed cooper atives Again owners would indemnified surrendered St Pastor resoonse uestion Said attempt MSP party explain reform program indigenous population sierra He referred specifically talks indian communities central Pard One person group resent these talks indians understood mlsad But aDDarent sxulsinln reform proposals while econizin social problems involved interested exclusively primarily economic health Per Ararian reform presented means bringing country ndisn population national social adhere rather program necessary stimulation industry expansion population consumers It St Pastor belief landowners compensated surrendered would invest their liculd capital indust enterprises providin needed source funds industrial growth He further indians benefited would market least their produce would become consumers manufactured orocessed Sr Pastor emphasized importance incorporatin indiana national economy agricultural producers processed consumers oresumably simply makin owners The aware difficulties facin overnment attemptin funds owners dlstrl The expressed solution might international organization which could exten credit farmers would purchase prompt payment former owners The clouds raised elections June IA riots dizzy succession strikes means settled earth At present there feelin slight clearing Some persons before final violence storm persons believe worst paase But regardless events month should obscure vital innovation issues oreaente Perd million voters For first electorate country presented promise serious program reform Droram would existing economlc institutions which would reducin between Peruvians towns cities isolated indians sierra Yt appears party raised issue defeated polls election But narrow marin Which defeated votes total million demonstrates large oortion Peruvians ready approach enormous oroblems reform Sincerely VOUrS ichard W Patch Rec Ne York