Leticia Incident

Colombia–Peru War
Colombian Army making maneuvers
Date September 1, 1932 - May 24, 1933 (8 months, 3 weeks and 2 days) Location Colombia Result Resolved by the League of Nations, which upheld the Salomón–Lozano Treaty, and the signed by Colombia and Peru which reinstated the status quo ante bellum.
Belligerents
Peru Army Navy Air Force	Colombia Army Navy Air Force National Police
Commanders and leaders
Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro Oscar R. Benavides	Enrique Olaya Herrera
Strength
Approximately 1000	Approximately 1000
Casualties and losses
150 to 250, mostly through jungle diseases	140 to 200, mostly through jungle diseases

The Leticia Incident, also called the Leticia War or the Colombia–Peru War (1 September 1932 – 24 May 1933), was a short-lived armed conflict between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru over territory in the Amazon Rainforest.

The Colombia–Peru War of 1932-3 was the result of dissatisfaction with the Salomón-Lozano Treaty and the imposition of heavy tariffs on sugar. The war started with an internal insurrection in Peru, a civilian takeover of the city Iquitos. On September 1, 1932 President Luis Miguel Sánchez dispatched two regiments of the Peruvian Army to Leticia and Tarapacá, both settlements located in the Amazonas Department in present-day southern Colombia. These actions were mostly ignored by the Colombian Government at the time.

It was not until September 17 of that same year that the Colombian Government took notice. The Peruvian Military Forces which were encroached upon the banks of the Putumayo River stopped several large trade ships from traveling to Leticia. The result of this was an explosion of Colombian patriotism. Laureano Gómez head of the Senate minority proclaimed, "Peace, peace, peace in inner Colombia; War, war, war on the border against our despicable enemy."

On September 19, El Tiempo reported that they had received over 10,000 letters calling for war and control of Leticia. That same day thousands of Colombian students marched through the streets of Bogotá chanting, "Sánchez Cerro will die and Colombia will defy!" Vásquez Cobo was declared general of the Colombian Amazonian Navy and 10 million dollars were approved by the Senate to fund his venture. Over 400 kilos of gold were donated by the Colombian cities as a symbol of gratitude to Huilan engineer, César García Álvarez.

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