The historic Peruvian-Mexican brotherhood

For those of us who know the excellent relations at all levels that Mexico and Peru have maintained throughout history, we are very negatively surprised by the attitude assumed by their president, Manuel López Obrador, who has been meddling for some time in internal affairs of our politics and our sovereignty. New and embarrassing episodes on this subject are constantly being reported that sully a secular tradition of brotherhood and respect between two peoples that are the cradle of the most important cultures of pre-Hispanic America.

Let Mr. López Obrador know that when Mexico was the victim of the French invasion in the 1960s, it provoked the strongest condemnation of the Peruvian government headed by Marshal Ramón Castilla. Our Foreign Ministry, headed by José Fabio Melgar, protested before the Courts of France and England at the same time that it sent a circular to all the governments of America asking them to pronounce themselves in favor of Mexico and, if necessary, to testify before Europe. of the moral union of the peoples of the New World. In November 1861, the young diplomat and poet Manuel Nicolás Corpancho (1831 – 1863) was appointed Chargé d’Affaires and General Consul in Mexico. As is known, his management was remarkable, fully demonstrating the fraternity that the Peruvian people and government felt for Mexico at that difficult moment in its history. “The words that the President (Benito Juárez) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have addressed to me in the private audience, Corpancho said in March 1862, giving an account of his presentation of credentials, accredit the feelings of a lively gratitude towards the Peruvian government, for the steps it has taken in favor of Mexico, and the interest it takes in the preservation of its nationality and independence.”

Manuel Nicolás Corpancho’s mission was abruptly interrupted in August 1863 when the Regency government sent him his passport ordering him to leave Aztec territory in three days. He was accused of protecting notorious enemies of the new Maximilian Empire with the Peruvian flag. On September 12, 1863, Corpancho embarked in Veracruz bound for Havana on the Spanish steamer “Mexico” and, sailing between Cabos Catoche and San Antonio, the ship caught fire and sank, most of the passengers perishing between those who were Corpancho and his deputies Juan C. Sánchez and Ramón Manrique. To cooperate with the Corpancho mission, the writer José Arnaldo Márquez was appointed consul in Veracruz where he was between July 1862 and February 1863.

This newspaper, which in a few months will celebrate its 184th anniversary, has among its most honorable pages the intense campaign that it waged in favor of Mexico and Benito Juárez during those days. In an editorial tone, he asked that Peru send material support to Juárez. “From Mexico rises an immense wail of orphans and widows, of the wounded and dying, of ruined property owners and desolate populations, a lament that crosses the oceans and shouts to Europe: justice to America! Won’t we hear that moan? Shall we not even send lint to those who shed their generous blood for the cause of American freedom and independence? Along with the director of El Comercio, Manuel Amunátegui, were the editor-in-chief José María Samper, generals Manuel Martínez de Aparicio and Luis La Puerta, doctors Antonio Arenas, José Simeón Tejeda and José Casimiro Ulloa, as well as the poet Emilio Althaus and other people more. They formed the Society for the Defense of American Independence, which received important economic contributions that were sent to Mexico. Apart from the private donations, there were also others of a collective nature, such as those from the “Zepita”, “Húsares de Junín” and “Artilleros” battalions of the Peruvian army. In a few days, two thousand pounds sterling were collected, which were immediately remitted to Mexico. But that was not all. On July 21, 1863, El Comercio organized funeral services in the Santo Domingo temple in honor of the heroes who had perished in the defense of Puebla.

At no time did El Comercio stop supporting those who fought for the honor of Mexico. Information about the fleeting Empire of Maximilian of Habsburg and Charlotte and the tenacious resistance of the patriots was abundant and frequent. Maximiliano was shot in Querétaro, along with generals Miramón and Mejía on June 19, 1867, the triumph of the Republic was assured. A few weeks later, on July 15, Benito Juárez triumphantly entered Mexico City, restoring the supreme powers of the Union. El Comercio reported all of this with exultant enthusiasm and firm conviction in the free destiny of the peoples of America.