"Empire Salesman"

Even incognito as the "Earl of Chester." Edward of Wales is entitled, as is any member of the British Royal family, anywhere, anytime, to a 21-gun salute. Last week as he and Prince George sailed into Callao (Port of Lima) they got their salute. Two years ago hospitable Peruvians even fired 21 guns for Herbert Hoover, although, as President-elect, he was entitled to no salute whatever.

Since the Hoover cannonade, epochal changes have come upon Peru. In the purses of her citizens are no more libras (Peruvian "pounds") but shiny new soles (Peruvian "suns"*). For the first time in two generations Peru is on friendly terms with Chile, due to the Tacna-Arica accord (TIME, May 27, 1929) negotiated under President Hoover by the late U.S. Ambassador Alexander Pollock Moore whom President Coolidge sent to Peru.

A tale told by Ambassador Moore (peerless tale teller) shortly before his death:

President Coolidge: Mr. Moore, I want you to go down and straighten out this Tacna-Arica trouble.

Moore: But Mr. President, I know nothing about it! I don't even know where it is--where is Tacna-Arica?

President Coolidge (after the briefest pause): You know where Tacna-Arica is, Mr. Moore, and I want you to go there.

Perhaps if peace had not been made with Chile, the Peruvian revolution (TIME, Sept. 1) would have not occurred. Officers of the Peruvian army, having for the first time in their lives no foreign foe to worry about, staged a coup and deposed President Augusto Bernardino Leguia, famed "Bantam Roosevelt of Peru."

Senor Leguia is now in jail (TIME, Sept. 8) charged with "illegal enrichment" while in office. He was Mr. & Mrs. Hoover's host. In their honor he hung a portrait of President James (Doctrine) Monroe next to his own in the Parliament building at Lima.

The host of Their Royal Highnesses last week was the No. 1 revolutionist, Lieut. Colonel Luis M. Sanchez Cerro. It is said that he incited his men to revolt by telling them the new government would pay them better than the old. Today he is Provisional President.

In Lima last week the Earl of Chester was seen to be scribbling on a piece of paper in his lap while the mayor wordily presented him with the Freedom of the City. Rising to give thanks and reading from the scrap of paper, H. R. H. pronounced 71 Spanish words, concluded amid cheers: "Cuando la emocion es grande, el discurso es corto." ("When the emotion is great the speech is short.")

Soon Peru's Provisional President pinned upon the nation's guest Peru's Order of the Sun, was pinned in return with the Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.

According to announcements a "formal dance" in honor of Their Royal Highnesses had been cancelled because the British Court is in mourning for the King's sister (TIME, Jan. 12). After attending an "informal dance" until 3 a. m. the Princes were up at noon. As at Panama (TIME, Feb. 16) they had preferred a brunette: Miss Virginia Harris of Columbia, Mo., private secretary to U. S. Ambassador Fred Morris Dearing.

In Santiago, Chile, where Their Royal Highnesses were shortly expected, a Mrs. Leo Welch, native of St. Louis, Mo. stated that in Uruguay four years ago "the Prince of Wales said I was one of the best dancers he had ever known. He invited me to a supper party, but I said: 'My fiance has just come from Buenos Aires and I wouldn't want to come without him.'

" 'By all means bring him along,' said the Prince, 'I have never had such a specific request made in connection with an invitation of mine before. I admire you and him.' "

Admirable Leo Welch is manager in Santiago for the National City Bank.

*The Chinese Government will soon issue its own suns, worth 400, as are Peruvian soles.

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