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. You are "Of the terms of the treaty itself I cannot at present speak. 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, 1825; 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 Peru-Bolivian war. Efforts of the United States to bring about a peace. President's message. January 20, 1881. (S. Ex. Doc. 26, Fortysixth 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, Christiancy, and Hurlbut. President's message. February 17, 1882. (H. Ex. Doc. 68, part 2, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Peace congress to convene at Washington to agree on some just method of settlement of all questions now existing or that shall hereafter arise between Chili, Peru, and Bolivia. Resolution favoring such congress. February 20, 1832. (S. Mis. Doc. 53, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Alleged contracts for exporting guano, investigation as to connection of United States officials with. February 24, 1882. (S. Mis. Doc. 55, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Investigation of charges of official corruption in relation to alleged guano contracts. February 28, 1882. (S. Mis. Doc. 57, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) The dismemberment of Peru. March 7, 1882. (S. Mis. Doc. 62, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Transmitting correspondence; the lost papers. President's message. March 16, 1882. (S. Ex. Doc. 79, part 3, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Negotiations for restoration of peace in South America. President's message. March 28, 1882. (H. Ex. Doc. 142, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) Transmitting instructions of Secretary of State Frelinghuysen to Mr. Trescot, and other papers. President's message. March 28, 1882. (H. Ex. Doc. 142. Forty-seventh Congress, first session.) 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 Mr. Evarts to Mr. Pettis (No. 12). 1879. June 23 Privateering against Chilian property in 2 Mr. Evarts to Mr. Pettis (No. 13). 5 1879. June 25 Privateering projects of Bolivia: refers to 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 Same to Mr. Adams Apr. 19 (No. 3). 26 between Bolivia and Chili: course of Mr. Pettis in assuring minister for foreign affairs of, approved; reply to No. 13. Peace: action reported in his No. 15 in behalf of, approved; position of United States on the subject of mediation. Conduct of minister in conferring with Presidents of Peru and Bolivia and giving rise to a supposition that he was on a special mission to Peru, Chili, and Bolivia; explanation requested. Prisoners of war: exchange of, between Same to same (No. Aug. 2 Policy of the United States regarding 73 77 80 1880. Same to same (No. Feb. 19 83). peace: incloses correspondence with min- Peace negotiations: failure of, regretted; War between Chili and Peru: No. 92, trans- Neutral rights: instructed to bring atten- 101 Same to same (No. Mar. 9 Foreign intervention: instructed, i. the 106 85). event of attempt being made by Euro- Same to same (No. Apr. 23 Prisoners of war: exchange of, between Chili and Bolivia; copy of No. 3 to the 108 86 Mr. Evarts to Mr. Osborne (tel- 1880. July 29 Mediation: "Press upon Chilian Govern- 116 98 Same to same (tel- Sept. 28 Peace question: "Proceed as proposed if 129 egram). 102 Same to same (No. 109). Oct. 14 belligerents accede; ins' ructions to our vessels when you telegraph for them." Mediation proceedings of legation for, by 132 the United States seem to prosper thus far; full advices awaited; No. 163 and telegram of the 9th instant received. 105 Same to same (tel- Nov. 19 Neutrals: instructed as to taking action 135 egram). for protection of lives and property of, when Lima is attacked by Chilians. 110 Same to same (No. Dec. 27 Arbitration: instructed to correct errone115). 1881. ous impression that the United States 147 113 Same to same (No. Feb. 10 Peace question: urge upon Chili the desire 151 119). 120 Mr. Blaine to Mr. Kilpatrick (No. 2). of the United States to bring about June 15 Intervention: instructed to encourage dis- 157 126 Same to same (No. Nov. 22 13). Peace question: his note to the foreign 168 127 Same to same (tel- Nov. 25 Calderon government; its suppression and 169 egram). arrest of President Calderon are not un- 129 Same to same (No. Nov. 30 Relieves him of negotiations for solution 171 16).. 8. Mis. 162-VOL. I-23 of peace question; informs him as to ap- 353 |