attention demanded by the importance of the occurrences you narrate. As supplemented by your later telegrams, they show the conclusion of a treaty of peace between General Iglesias and the Chilian plenipotentiary, on what are understood here to be bases substantially in accord with the terms of the protocol previously signed between General Iglesias and the representative of Chili; the evacuation of Lima by the Chilian forces; the installation there of a form of provisional administration under the Presidency of General Iglesias; and the revolt of the residents or garrison of Arequipa against the authority of Vice-President Montero, who thereupon escaped by flight. Besides this, it appears that the first public act of General Iglesias on assuming control of the provisional Government thus established, was to issue a convocation for an assembly of delegates, to be chosen by the people of Peru, to whom is to be referred the question of accepting and ratifying the treaty which has been signed, and who are further to decide the Presidency of the Peruvian Government. "Of the terms of the treaty itself I cannot at present speak. You are already acquainted with the views of this Government upon the main point involved. It remains to be seen whether the people of Peru, in the expression of their national sovereignty, are disposed to accept the terms proposed to them. With this the Government of the United States has no desire to interfere. It respects the independence of Peru as a commonwealth entitled to settle its own affairs in its own way. It recognizes too keenly the calamities of protracted strife, or the alternative calamity of prolonged military occupation by an enemy's forces, to seek, by anything it may say or do, to influence an adverse decision of the popular representatives of Peru. And a due respect for their sovereign independence forbids the United States from seeming to exert any positive or indirect pressure upon these representatives to influence their course. "The state of facts reported by you makes it necessary to give you instructions respecting your relations with the provisional Government. With the people of Peru this country aims, as it has always aimed, to maintain relations of friendship and sympathy. With the particular Administration which may for the time assume to control the affairs of Peru we have little direct concern, except so far as our attitude towards it shall express our friendliness to the nation; hence we have no partiality for the Calderon-Montero government or desire that you should manifest any. Should the assembly which is about to convene be elected under circumstances entitling it to represent the people of Peru and declare for General Iglesias, this Government would no doubt recognize him. This, however, it is unnecessary to say, as such an announcement in advance of the action of the assembly might in effect exert an influence upon its deliberations, which we seek to avoid. "In the mean time, however, your attitude towards whatever Administration may have actual control of the public affairs of Peru should be unconstrained, although informal, and of a character to impress them with a sense of the good-will we bear to the Peruvian people." Mr. Frelinghuysen, Sec. of State, to Mr. Phelps, Nov. 15, 1883; MSS. Inst., "The opinion of the United States heretofore has been, that as the foreign obligations of Peru, incurred in good faith before the war, rested upon and were secured by the products of her guano deposits, Chili was under a moral obligation not to appropriate that security without recognizing the lien existing thereon. This opinion was frankly made known to Chili, and our belief was expressed that no arrangement would be made between the two countries by which the ability of Peru to meet her honest engagements towards foreigners would be impaired by the direct act of Chili. This Government went so far as to announce that it could not be a party, as mediator, or directly lend its sanction to any arrangement which should impair the power of Peru to pay those debts." Mr. Frelinghuysen, Sec. of State, to Mr. Phelps, Dec. 29, 1883; MSS. Inst., Peru. "Your energy in seeking to reach some conclusion is appreciated, but for this Government to direct you to tell Peru that it should surrender Tarapacá, Tacna, and Arica, on receiving $10,000,000, would be assuming to decide a question between two nations when we have not been requested to arbitrate, and it would be telling Chili it might properly make claim for the territory. Peru's condition may be so deplorable that it is wise for her to accept these terms, but Peru and not the United States as to this must decide." Mr. Frelinghuysen, Sec. of State, to Mr. Logan, Jan. 5, 185; MSS. Inst., Chili. The following Congressional documents, as noted in the list of papers concerning foreign relations attached to the register of the Department of State, may be referred to in this relation: Chilian and Pern-Bolivian war. Efforts of the United States to bring about a peace. President's message. January 20, 1881. (S. Ex. Doc. 26, Forty sixth Congress, third session.) Papers relating to, and attempts to bring about a peace, and touching claims or contracts respecting either of the belligerent Governments; a diplomatic history of the war. President's message. January 26, 1882. (S. Ex. Doc. 79, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Refers to the foregoing document for the correspondence. President's message. January 26, 1882. (H. Ex. Doc. 68, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Telegram from Mr. Trescot, setting forth the conditions of peace presented by Chili, President's message. January 27, 1882. (S. Ex. Doc. 79, part 2, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Further correspondence, not incorporated in H. Ex. Doc. 68, comprising letters of Messrs. Shipherd, Christianey, and Hurlbut. President's message. February 17, 1882. (II. Ex. Doc. 68, part 2, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Peace congress to convene at Washington to agree on some just method of settle- Investigation of charges of official corruption in relation to alleged guano con- The dismemberment of Peru. March 7, 1882. (S. Mis. Doc. 62, Forty-seventh Transmitting correspondence; the lost papers. President's message. March 16, Answer of Secretary of State to call for more correspondence in the guano claims, referring to S. Ex. Doc. 79, Forty-seventh Congress, first session. President's message. May 26, 1882. (H. Ex. Doc. 68, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs relative to certain missing papers from the files of the Department of State, and also relating to the connection of one or more ministers plenipotentiary of the United States with business transactions in which the intervention of the United States was requested between Chili and Peru. Guano claims of Landreau and Cochet, Peruvian Company, and Crèdit Industriel. August 1, 1882. (H. Rep. 1790, Fortyseventh Congress, first session.) Minority report. August 5, 1882. (Ibid., part 2.) Report of Wm. Henry Trescot and Walker Blaine on the results of the special mission in South America. President's message. June 14, 1882. (S. Ex, Doc. 1881, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Joint efforts of ministers of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Italy in Lima or Peru to bring about peace. Resolution requesting the President to give any information in his possession concerning the same, and to state if the United States minister has been instructed to invite or accept the mediation of European powers in the settlement of a purely American question. February 21, 1883. (S. Mis. Doc. 44, Forty-seventh Congress, second session.) The following is a list of instructions issuing from the Department of State in 1879-'81 in reference to the war then pending between Peru, Chili, and Bolivia. These documents are published in a volume entitled "War in South America and attempt to bring about a peace," printed in the Government Printing Office in 1882. The numbers and pages refer to this volume: 1 1879. Mr. Evarts to Mr. June 23 Privateering against Chilian property in Pettis (No. 12). neutral vessels: authorization of, by Bolivia, and proposed fitting out of privateers in the United States by Bolivian agents; instructed to inform Bolivia that treaty of 1858 exempts from capture enemy's property on board neutral vessels, and that law of the United States prohibits fitting out within its territory of expeditions against a country with which United States is at peace. 1 2 Mr. Evarts to Mr. 1879. June 25 Privateering projects of Bolivia: refers to Department's No. 12 and incloses Treasury regulations for the prevention of violation of United States neutrality laws by privateers in the interest of Bolivia. 5 Same to same (No. Aug. 8 Mediation of Colombia for cessation of hos- tilities between Bolivia and Chili: in- 6 Mr. F. W. Seward Aug. 11 Neutrality of the United States during war 22 22 between Bolivia and Chili: course of Mr. 1880. Same to Mr. Adams Apr. 19 (No. 3). Prisoners of war: exchange of, between 26 Same to same (No. Aug. 2 Policy of the United States regarding 10). 60 Mr. F. W. Seward to Mr. Osborn (No 63). 64 peace: incloses correspondence with min- Dec. 14 Peace negotiations: failure of, regretted; 1879. May 29 War between Chili and Peru: No. 92, trans- Mr. Evarts to Mr. Aug. 8 Mediation of Colombia for cessation of hos- 1880. 73 Same to same (No. Feb. 19 83). 77 80 tilities: instructed to express to Colom 5 6 17 28 32 57 86 92 Neutral rights: instructed to bring atten- 101 Same to same (No. Mar. 9 Foreign intervention: instructed, i. the 106 85). Same to same (No. Apr. 23 89). event of attempt being made by Euro- 108 1 105 110 Mediation: "Press upon Chilian Govern- Same to same (tel- Nov. 19 Neutrals: instructed as to taking action for protection of lives and property of, Dec. 27 Arbitration: instructed to correct errone- 1881. 113 Same to same (No. Feb. 10 119). 120 Mr. Blaine to Mr. Kilpatrick (No. 2). caused. Peace question: urge upon Chili the desire June 15 Intervention: instructed to encourage dis- 116 129 132 135 147 151 157 126 Same to same (No. Nov. 22 Peace question: his note to the foreign 168 13). office to allay apprehension and correct 169 129 Same to same (No. Nov. 30 Relieves him of negotiations for solution 171 16). S. Mis. 162-VOL. I- -23 of peace question; informs him as to ap- 353 |