The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-08-13
THE LoBos ISLANDS.

In the controversy which has arisen as to
the right Of Peru to the possession OF the Lo-
hos Islands, it has been stated that Mr.. Web
s,er had given an opinion adverse to the claim
of Peru. This opinion of Mr.. Webster is con.
tanned 10 the following letter:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WASHINGTON, 5ih June, 1852.
Cant. JAMES c. JEwErT, master OF the barque
Phomela-
SIR-I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter Of the Cd inst, inquiring whether
citizens OF the United States can take guano
from the Lobos Islands, which are situated
near the coast of Peru, without infringing upon
the rights OF the citizens, or subjects, or gov
eminent. ofany other nation. In reply, | have
to inform you, that if those Islands should lie
within the distance Of marine league from the
continent, or II being further than that distance.
should have been discovered and occupied by
Spain or by Peru, the Peruvian government
would have ight TO exclude therefrom the
vessels and citizens of other nations. except
npon such conditions as it may think proper
to prescribe. There can be no doubt that the
title of Peru to the Chincha Islands, whence
guano is now chiefly taken. is founded upon
the basis of discovery and occupancy. mat
article was taken from those islands, and used
as manure by the Peruviens, anterior TO the
conquest ofPeru by Spain. 1t continued TO
he so taken and used throughout the Spanish
dominions in that country, and this practice
has been kept up to the present day..
Although those islands are unlnhabitahie.
the custom of resorting to them from the
neighboriDg continent for the purpose OF pro.
curing gaano, may be said to haze constituted
such an occupancy Them, as TO give the SOW
ereign of the continent a right of dominion
he Iaw pf
Department. however, is not aware that the
Lobos Islands were either discovered by Spain
or by Peru, or that the guano on them has ever
been used for manure on the adjacent coaster
elsewhere. Ii is certain that the distance from
the continent is five or six times greater than
is necessary to make them dependency there
of, pursuant 10 public law.
On the other hand it is quite probable that
Benjamin Morrel, Jr who, as master of the
schooner Wasp, Of New York, visited these
islands in September, 1898, may justly claim
to have been their discoverer. He gives full
account of them in his narrative, published in
New York in 1882. Under these circum-
stances, it may be considered the duty of this
government to protect citizens of the U. s. who
may visit the Lobos Islands for the purpose
of obtaining guano. This duty will be more
apparent when it is considered that the consul
mers of Chincha Island guano in this country
mlSnt pfODaOly OOtaln III iOf ndH Inc price tney
now pay, were it not for the charges of the
Peruvian Government. | shall consequently
communicate copy of this letter to the Secre
tary Of the Navy. and suggest that vessel of
war be ordered to repair TO the Lobos Islands,
for the purpose Of protecting from molestation
any Of our citizens who may wish to take
guano from them.
am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) DANIEL WEBSTER.
p. S. 1t is considered important that this
letter should rot be made public at present.
In consequence of the opinion thus given by
Mr. Webster, the Secretary of the Navy di
rected Commodore McAuley, of the Pacific
Squadron, to send vessel of war to these
islands for the purpose of protecting American
citizens who might 60 there to procure guano.
Since then, however, il is asserted that Peru
has furnished proof to our government that she
has long exercised rights Of ownership over
the Lobos Islands, and that they are an appen-
dage of her possessions. The whole cores
pondence on the subject has been called for
and will shortly be laid before Congress.