Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-28
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE LoBos ISLANDS QUESTION,

communication was made to the Senate yester-
day by the PREsIpENT of the United States on the
subject Of the Lobos Islands, embracing CORE
spondence between the Secretary of State and the
Minister of the Republic Of Peru as to the soye-
reianty Of those Islands, &c. Had it been possible
for us to obtain copies of all the papers commun-
Gated by the President it would have been out of
our power at this moment to find room for them
but we are enabled to give at once the full and
masterly letter of Mr. WEBSTER, which appears to
cover the whole question and all the matters in
controversy.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, AUGUST p, 1852
The undersigned Secretary of State the United States
has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the several
communications of Mr.. Osma Charge d'Adares of Peru
Of the 25h June Sd july and the 9th instant The first
mentioned of these communications however, did not
his knowledge until the 9th of July, after he had
left Washington for short absence. He very much re-
grets that have earlier
to these several communications but they all relate to
the subject, all viii now receive common reply.
In the first place. the undersigned will remark to Mr.
Osma that the Government Of the United States has
now has had any intention to facilitate the par
tcuar purposes Of any persons such Mr. Osma calls
SPECTATORS further than those purposes conformabe
to public law well to the laws OF the United States
This Government knows OF no companies associations
and Individuals in whose behalf it undertakes any
special protection The question 10 general one In
which all the citizens Of the United States engaged in
commerce interest," and that interest is equally
respected by the United States regardless of individuals
In the place. the undersigned expresses the hope
that it not Mr. 0smas purpose by any expression in
his of the 9th instant to convey any ntmaon that
the proceedings of this Government in regard the SUBJ
eet have been influenced in the slightest degree by any
conviction of the relative strength weakness of the
ties. Such ntimation if intended to be made, would
require refuatiOn since all the world knows the
ner in which Repubcso South America formed
the ancient of Spain have been treated by this
Government from their earliest origin to the present day
The undersigned will make further remark, prevent
mistake and misunderstanding upon Mr. Osmas obserya-
ton upon the conversation between him and the under
signed in the Department Of State the I'd of July and
that is that the supposed discovery of Captain Morre
mentioned in that conversation not relied upon by
the undersigned founding exclusive right the Lo
hos Islands the part of the United States 1t only
mentioned fact fit to be considered in with
other facts and The truth appears be
that Captain Morrel voyage of discovery and
did in fact discover supposed have discovered
guano on these islands.
1t is certain that book generally known and crcu-
lated in this country mentioned the fact the existence
of guano these islands until Captain Morrels
tive published in 1882.
After these preliminary remarks the undersigned now
proceeds to the consideration of the main subject In his
several communications Mr. Osma asserts the right of
Peru all the Lobos islands on the ground that she has
always exercised authority them that they belong
to Peru, as they formerly belonged to Spain and that
from time immemoral the Peruvian Indians have been
the habit OF visiting them for the purpose OF catching SEALS
killing birds and gathering eggs and that this exclusive
right to the islands by Peru has been doubted
disputed.
The question is these unqualified declarations of
Mr. Osma strictly accurate The Lobos, Seal Islands,
as their imports, lie in the open Pacific ocean, the
nearest of them twenty thirty miles from the
Peru. They are, as Mr. Osma admits barren rocks
fhAu al
the pursuit Of amphibous animals, especially the SEAL
have long been carried around their shores and
those shores themselves since it is well known that
seals usually taken and killed upon the land In these
pursuits and in this of the islands, citizens the
United States cngagrd Tor sir befere ans
actual interruption took place by the Peruvian Govern
ment or any body else their visits to them having
menced least early 1898. All this is well known
to the commercial world Now it is quite certain that if
Peru held and possessed full sovereignty these
islands, this fishing near the shore and this pursuit and
killing Of ampdibous animals upon the land much
invasion Of that sovereignty is the taking Of guano
from them Nor the case SO unmportant as that
Peru might have regarded this Of the islands by ct
Of the United States indulgence merely, sup
posing her to possess the exclusive right since the
suit and destruction of seals which have at last erm
nGted in their almost entire disappearance must have
been matter OF much importance to her Government
Nevertheless, no complaint made OF this course of
things any interruption attempted threatened
til September 1888 in which month"; it would APP
pear, decree issued by the Peruvian Government
nSnlng Tor seals ana amph'
bious animals the shores and islands Of Peru and de-
carng that the captains Of foreign vessels who evaded
the order should be considered smuggers It is inn
porant to observe that this decree issued after the
publication of Captain Morre's narrative.
This decree sudden and unexpected and therefore
the Charge Aaires Of the United States Lima
der the necessity of acting upon it without orders from
his Government. He Immediately addressed note
the subject to the Minister Of Foreign Relations Of Pc
ru in which, without formally denying the original right
OF Peru he requested reconsideration Of the decree or
that it might be far modified TO permit to the ct
of the United States the pursuit of occupation
which they had been allowed quietly to follow for num-
Der OF years. and adding that the decree could not but be
regarded unfendy TO the Government Of the United
States. So far as is known TO the undersigned no an
reply made this remonsrance and it
is certain that the citizens Of the United States continued
TO pursue their usual avocatons without interruption not
withstanding this decree If such interruption had
been made by the Peruvian authorities il would at
have brought the question Of the sovereignty of Peru
the Lobos Islands to the attention Of this Government
happened few years before in the Of the right Of the
Government Of the Argentine Confederation claim
regnty the Falkland Islands tits that the de-
Of 1888 makes particular mention Of the Lobos
Islands but is directed generally against fishing the
coasts and islands Of Peru Nevertheless this cannot be
regarded affecting the general right Of citizens Of the
United States, founded long and undspufed usage
Here then is formal remonstrnnce the part Of the
United States against the asserted sovereignty Of Peru
tho Lobos Islands to which answer far os II
appears was given, any intimaton made that not
wthstandng this refaonsrance the decree would be
forced Ii is quite evident that although the decree is
general in its terms, it intended be eyeed espe
ciay against citizens Of the United States, the sub
ects Of other countries did not parke to any consdera
bic extent IN the fisheries which we're prohibited Can
M H.. - f. Iszl