Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-08-20

u HE bABOS ltBANDS-l ne IOlOWiUB
letter from Mr.. Webster, which has been much
talked about, but is now first given to the pubs
lie, was addressed to one of the parties con-
cerned in fitting out vessels for said Islands.
with a view to load with guano, and virtually
promises them protection. 1t is as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, 9Th June, 1852.
Sir: have to acknowledge the receipt Of
your letter of the Cd instant, inquiring whether
citizens of the United States can take gUano
from the Labos Islands, which are situa-
ted near the coast of Peru, without infringing
upon the rights of the citizens, or subjects, or
government of any other nation?
In reply, have to inform you, that if those
Islands should be within the distance of ma
rine league from the Continent, or if, being
farther than that distance, should have been
discovered and occupied by Spain or Peru, the
Peruvian government would have a right to
exclude therefrom the vessels and citizens Of
other nations, except upon 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 chiefly taken, is
founded upon the basis of discovery and occu>
pAncy. That article was taken from those
Islands, and used as manure by the Peruvi-
ans anterior to the conquest of Peru by 5 pain.
1t continued to be so taken and used through
out the Spanish dominion in that country, and
this practice has been kept up to the present
day. Although those Islands are uninhabita
Bile, the custom of resorting to them from the
neighboring Continent, for the purpose of pre-
curing guano, may be said to have constituted
such an occupancy of them as to give to the
Sovereign of the Continent right OF dominion
over them under the law of nations.
This Department; however, is not aware that
the Labos Islands were either discovered or oc-
cupied by Spain or Peru, or that the guano on
them has ever been used for manure on the ad-
jacent coast or elsewhere. 1t is certain that
their distance from the Continent is five or SIX
times greater than is necessary to make them
a dependency thereof pursuant to pubic law
On the other hand, it is quite probable that Ben
amin MorrelI, Jr., who, as master Of the
schooner Wasp, OF New York, visited those
Islands in September, 1923, may justly claim
to have been their discoverer. lie gives full
account OF them in his narrative, published at
New York in 1892. Under these circumstan-
ces, it may De considered the duty Of this Gov
eminent to protect citizens Of the United States
who may visit the Labos Islands for the puI-
pose of obtaining guano. Ihs duty will be
the more apparent, when it Is considered that
the consumers of Chincha Island guano in this
country might probably obtain It for half the
price they now pay, were it not for the char
ges of the Peruvian Government. shall coll
sequently communicate copy OF this letter
to the Secretary of the Navy, and suggest that
a vessel of war be ordered to repair to the La
bos Islands, for the purpose of protecting from
molesta,lon any of our citizens who may wish
10 take guano from them.
,f,,1I,