Apra Enters

Inside the presidential residence, closeted in dramatic secrecy, two men talked for hours, threshing out the political future of Peru. One was soft-spoken Jose Luis Bustamente Rivero, the moderate-minded poet and law professor who was elected President last June when leftist parties swept Peru's first really free election. The other, who probably did most of the talking, was leonine Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, boss of Apra (People's Party).

Not far from these protagonists, like a Greek chorus, was legendary Apra itself. Holder of most of the seats in Congress since last June's elections, Apra still breathed much of the fiery fanaticism that had made its legend. It still fought for a program of nationalization of land and industry, rehabilitation of the Indians, solidarity of all oppressed peoples and classes, as though it were revealed religion. It still tangled with Communists and conservatives in the streets with the ferocity and skill of some 15 years' underground discipline. And still Apra preferred to hold power without office. But when Apra pushed a law through Congress by flexing its muscles in Lima's streets (TIME, Dec. 17), and no Cabinet minister dared publicly to protest, President Bustamente became convinced that the only responsible government would be one with Apra in it. Haya saw that it was impossible to guide policy entirely from the streets. The result: compromise.

Last week three Apristas joined the Cabinet. As partial guarantee that some of Haya's big reconstruction plans would be carried out, Apristas were placed in the Finance, Public Works and Agriculture Ministries. Then, to sanctify the union, Bustamente and Haya came out on the steps of the presidential palace and embraced each other till the cameramen said quit.

U.S. Ambassador William D. Pawley had reason to be pleased by these dramatics. Since his arrival in Lima last July, Businessman Pawley has been busy trying to be constructive. He helped arrange for settlement of Government debts so that much-needed U.S. Export-Import Bank credits might be obtained. He induced U.S. oil companies to spend money developing Peruvian oil reserves, and aided the Santa Valley project to exploit zinc and nearby Canon del Pato water power to create a new electrolytic zinc industry. With the formation of a sturdy new Cabinet last week, prospects for Pawley's efforts looked the brightest since he arrived.

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