No. 364.
Mr. Brent to Mr. Fish.
Lima, Peru, June 6, 1872. (Received July 3.)
Sir: As was expected, the election of the President of Peru will have to be decided by congress.
The electoral returns sent in to the standing committee of congress are most conflicting, each candidate having his own electors in every city and village in the country. Hence, in the preliminary meetings of congress, about the 15th of next month, special committees will be appointed to determine regarding the relative legality of the returns and declare the victor. But it is surmised that the legislature will, in view [Page 474] of the difficulties of the situation, resolve to consider the elections as null and void, and call for others. In this case a provisional president would be named by congress, some person, in all probability, friendly to the present administration. Mr. Pardo’s adherents threaten revolution in this event, but the government is too powerful to be overcome. The ranks of the army are full; the regiments are officered by President Balta’s protégés, and, more than all, the popular feeling is opposed to any departure from the actual state of prosperity and advancement. I venture to predict that if any revolt is attempted it will speedily be, suppressed.
The railways and other public works inaugurated by Colonel Balta are proceeding rapidly toward completion. A large loan has recently been negotiated by the government in the London money market, on rather advantageous terms, the minister of finance endeavoring to imitate the example of the Treasury of the United States in funding some of the former debts of the republic, and in establishing a uniform rate of interest on the others.
The country is now at perfect peace, and it certainly would appear that a continuance of tranquillity is the will of the majority of its inhabitants.
I have, &c,
Chargé d’Affaires ad int.