action will be heartily taken. I deemed it prudent, in view of the number of persons of German and French birth living in the United States, to issue, soon after official notice of a state of war had been received from both belligerents, a proclamation, defining the duties of the United States as a neutral and the obligations of persons residing within their territory, to observe their laws and the laws of nations. This procla mation was followed by others, as circumstances seemed to call for them. The people, thus acquainted, in advance of their duties and ob ligations, have assisted in preventing violations of the neutrality of the United States."

President Grant's Second Annual Message, 1870. See infra, § 105.

On application of the German Government, the United States lega. tion in China was instructed in 1870 to use its good offices to aid Germany in securing from China the use of the island of Kulangsen as a coaling station, not seeking, however, to acquire the sovereignty thereof.

Mr. Fish, Sec. of State, to Mr. Low, May 26, 1870; MSS. Inst., China.

"Washburne telegraphs that France requests United States to join other powers in effort for peace. Uniform policy and true interest of United States not to join European powers in interference in European questions. President strongly desires to see war arrested and blessings of peace restored. If Germany also desires to have good offices of United States interposed, President will be glad to contribute all aid in his power to secure restoration of peace between the two great powers now at war, and with whom United States has so many traditions of friendship. Ascertain if North Germany desires such offices, but without making the tender thereof unless assured they will be accepted."

Mr. Fish, Sec. of State, telegram to Mr. Bancroft, Sept. 9, 1870; MSS. Inst.,
Germ.; For. Rel., 1870.

"The reasons which you present against an American intervention between France and Germany are substantially among the considerations which determined the President in the course and policy indicated to you in the cable dispatches from this office on the 9th instant, and in rejecting all idea of mediation unless upon the joint request of both of the warring powers.

"It continues to be the hope of the President, as it is the interest of the people of this country, that the unhappy war in which France and North Germany are engaged should find an early end.

"This Government will not express any opinion as to the terms or conditions upon which a peace may or should be established between two Governments equally sharing its friendship, but it is hoped that the prolongation of the war may not find its cause either in extreme demands on the one side, or extreme sensitiveness on the other side.

"So far as you can consistently and without my official interposition of advice or of counsel, it is hoped that you will lose no proper opportunity to indicate the wishes and hopes of the President and of the American people as above represented, and to contribute what you may to the presentation of such terms of peace as befit the greatness and the power which North Germany has manifested, and as shall not be humiliating or derogatory to the pride of the great people who were our earliest and fast ally."

Mr. Fish, Sec. of State, to Mr. Washburne, Sept. 30, 1870; MSS. Inst., France;
For. Rel., 1870.

"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note to this Department, dated the Sth instant, in which you refer to previous correspondence in reference to the inquiry you made in June last, by direc tion of the Marquis of Salisbury, as to whether the Government of the United States would be disposed to join Great Britain and Germany in offering their mediation with a view of concluding the war between Chili and Peru. You also mention the reply of this Government to that proposal, expressing its readiness to assist in the restoration of peace between the belligerents whenever its good offices might be usefully proffered, but not favoring a premature effort nor an effort in combination with other neutral powers which would carry the impression of dictation or coercion in disparagement of belligerent rights.

"You say, furthermore, that you have recently observed statements in American newspapers to the effect that this Government has instructed its ministers at Lima and Santiago de Chili to tender the good offices of the United States to secure an honorable settlement of the difficulties between the belligerent Governments, whenever they shall intimate that such friendly services will be accepted with that end in view, and you express the hope that I will think myself justified in acquainting you, for the information of Her Majesty's Government, as to whether the newspaper statements to which you refer are founded on fact, and whether the hope may be entertained that the steps thus reported to have been taken by the Government of the United States may lead to the conclusion of peace between the Republics of Chili and Peru.

"In reply, I have to say that I have delayed answering your note above mentioned, which was brought to my notice on my return to Washington, on the 16th instant, until I could examine the correspondence with the several ministers at Peru, Chili, and Bolivia, which had taken place during my absence.

"The statements in the newspapers to which you refer, have not specif ically attracted my attention. I am able to say, however, that our min isters have given and are giving attention to the wishes of this Government to proffer its good offices in favor of peace at the earliest indication of the readiness of the belligerents to consider such good offices acceptable.

"This purpose this Government will not fail to pursue, and with good hopes that the events of the war may soon dispose all the belligcrents to desire its honorable conclusion. It would be premature to anticipate an immediate opportunity for a definite proposal of peaceful methods through the good offices of this Government which would gain the concurrent consent of the three belligerents.

"It will give me pleasure early to acquaint you, for the information of your Government, with any decisive indications of a disposition to make a peaceful solution of the unhappy controversy through the interposed friendship of this Government."

Mr. Evarts, Sec. of State, to Sir E. Thornton, Sept. 24, 1879; MSS. Note, Gr. Brit.;
For. Rel., 1879.

"The war between Peru, Bolivia, and Chili still continues. The United States have not deemed it proper to interpose in the matter further than to convey to all the Governments concerned the assurance that the friendly offices of the Government of the United States for the restoration of peace upon an honorable basis will be extended, in case the belligerents shall exhibit a readiness to accept them."

President Hayes's Third Annual Message 1879.

"The war between the Republic of Chili, on the one hand, and the allied Republics of Peru and Bolivia on the other, still continues. This Government has not felt called upon to interfere in a contest that is within the belligerent rights of the parties as independent states. We have, however, always held ourselves in readiness to aid in accommodating their difference, and have at different times reminded both belligerents of our willingness to render such service.

"Our good offices, in this direction, were recently accepted by all the belligerents, and it was hoped they would prove efficacious; but I regret to announce that the measures which the ministers of the United States at Santiago and Lima were authorized to take, with the view to bring about a peace, were not successful. In the course of the war some questions have arisen affecting neutral rights; in all of these the ministers of the United States have, under their instructions, acted with promptness and energy in protection of American interests."

President Hayes's Fourth Annual Message 1880.

"For some years past a growing disposition has been manifested by certain states of Central and South America to refer disputes affecting grave questions of international relationship and boundaries to arbitration rather than to the sword. It has been, on several such occasions, a source of profound satisfaction to the Government of the United States to see that this country is, in a large measure, looked to by all the American powers as their friend and mediator. The just and impartial counsel of the President in such cases has never been withheld, and

his efforts have been rewarded by the prevention of sanguinary strife or angry contentions between peoples whom we regard as brethren."

Mr. Blaine, Sec. of State, to Mr. Morgan, Nov. 29, 1881; MSS. Inst., Mexico. "The war between Peru and Bolivia, on the one side, and Chili on the other, began more than three years ago. On the occupation by Chili in 1880 of all the littoral territory of Bolivia, negotiations for peace were conducted under the direction of the United States. The allies refused to concede any territory, but Chili has since become master of the whole coast of both countries and of the capital of Peru. A year since, as you have already been advised by correspondence transmitted to you in January last, this Government sent a special mission to the belligerent powers to express the hope that Chili would be disposed to accept a money indemnity for the expenses of the war and to relinquish her demand for a portion of the territory of her antagonist.

"This recommendation, which Chili declined to follow, this Government did not assume to enforce; nor can it be enforced without resort to measures which would be in keeping neither with the temper of our people nor with the spirit of our institutions.

"The power of Peru no longer extends over its whole territory, and, in the event of our interference to dictate peace, would need to be sup plemented by the armies and navies of the United States. Such interference would almost inevitably lead to the establishment of a protect. orate-a result utterly at odds with our past policy, injurious to our present interests, and full of embarrassments for the future.

"For effecting the termination of hostilities upon terms at once just to the victorious nation and generous to its adversaries, this Government has spared no efforts save such as might involve the complications which I have indicated.

"It is greatly to be deplored that Chili seems resolved to exact such rigorous conditions of peace, and indisposed to submit to arbitration the terms of an amicable settlement. No peace is likely to be lasting that is not sufficiently equitable and just to command the approval of other nations."

President Arthur's Second Annual Message, 1882.

"The traditional attitude of the United States towards the sister Republics of this continent is one of peace and friendly counsel.

"When as colonies they threw off their political connection with Europe, we encouraged them by our sympathies. By the moral weight of our official declarations we prevented intervention, either to restore old political connections with Europe or to create new ones. The policy we then adopted has been since maintained. While we would draw them nearer to us by bonds of mutual interest and friendly feeling, our sole political connection springs from the desire that they should be prosperous and happy under the republican form of government

which they and we have chosen. We aim to be regarded as a disinterested friend and counselor, but we do not assume to impose our wishes upon them, or to act as arbitrator, or umpire, in their disputes unless moved to it by the wish of both parties, or by controlling intereets of our own"

Mr. Frelinghuysen, Bee, of State, to Mr. Trescot, Feb. 24, 1882; MSS. Inst.,

It seems to the President that the time has come when an effort for pesce between the South American Republics can be made with some reasonable hope of success. He has accordingly instructed Mr. Logan upon the subject, giving him a large measure of discretion.

This instruction is taken to you by Mr. Logan, who is directed to confer with you before proceeding to Santiago. You are aware that while Mr. Trescot was in Peru he visited Montero, and recognized him as the head of the Republic. It may now be assumed that this act has received the sanction of the Department. It will, therefore, be proper that after conferring with Mr. Logan and taking every possible precaution to prevent the difference between our legations in Chili and Peru, which have unhappily thwarted the policy and lessened the influence of the United States in the past, you will proceed at an early day to join the only Government in Peru which is now recognized by the United Ntates,

"It is understood that the principal difficulty in the way of opening negotiations is the disinclination of the Chilian Government to recogniso Montero and his Government. Mr. Logan's first efforts at Santiago will be directed to removing this obstacle and to securing at least such provisional recognition as may be involved in the fact of negotiaBIMEN. If this shall be found to involve the calling together of a conarvss by President Montero, Mr. Logan will endeavor to prevent any Chulan opposition to it.

» Mosauw Dilo it will be your duty to impress upon President Montero ast dis advisers the necessity of recognizing these severe results of un