The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-09-01
The Lobos Islands-Omoial Documents,

The Lobos Islands-Ofioial Documents.
A summary Of the documents rela-
tive to the Lobos Islands, transmitted
to the Senate on Monday, is before us,
but is too extended to give entire.
These documents consist of correspon-
dence between Mr.. Webster and Sen
or Osmar, the Peruvian Minister.
The first letter is from the latter gen.
tleman, who. under date Of June 25th,
claims the Lobos Islands as belonging
to Peru as they formerly did to Spain,
insists that they were known to navi.
gators as early as the days of Pizarro,
and we're f%requented by the Peruvian
Indians f; gives this information that the
Secretary may understand the case,
and asks him to adopt measures to pre-
vent the Infringement Of these alleged
rights. Other letters follow, simply
~reiterating the protests and claims of
the first.
The fourth letter in the series is
from NJ. Webster, under date Of Au-
gust Dist. Mr.. Webster denies that
Peru has always exercised authority
over these Islands, and asserts in an
swer to the claim that they lie in the
Pacific ocean, 90 or 80 miles from the
coast, and have been resorted to by
American seal fishermen half a centu-
ry before any actual interruption. This
fishing was an evasion of sovereignty,
as now assumed by Peru, as much as
the taking Of guano, yet nc complaint
was made or interruption attempted
until Sept. 1894, when a decree was
issued by the Peruvian Government
prohibiting this pursuit. The Amer
lean Minister at Lima Immediately
addressed a letter to the Peruvian
government asking a reconsideration Of
the decree, SO that American citizens
might be allowed to pursue their sew
eral avocations without molestation.
No answer was given, and our citizens
continued to prosecute their business.
If interruption had been enforced, ii
would have brought the question to an
issue. This amounted to a remonstra-
ton from the United States against the
asserted sovereignty Of Peru over the
Lobos Islands, to which no answer was
given. Although the decree was gen
eral in its terms, it was aimed at Amer
| lean citizens, as the subjects Of other
countries were not interested to any
considerable extent. From these facts
therefore, the inferencei is natural, tina.
Peru never claimed exclusive nigh.
t before.
5 Mr.. Webster does not regard the oc
casional resort oil Indians to the island.
, as giving so good a claim on those is
; lands to Peru, as that Of the seal fish
ers does to the United States. The isl
: ands not belonging to Peru by the lay
of proximity, the whole question turn
OIL the point whether Peru has exercis
4 ed such unequivocal acts Of sovereign
/ ty and ownership over them as to Civ,
her a right to exclusive possession as
J against the United States and thei
citizens by the law Of undisputed pos
| session ! Mr.. Webster says that it i
t not a question between Peru and othe
t governments, but with the United
t States, who have exercised a right
a and demonstrated against interruption
s Of that right. This government is pre-
c pared to give due consideration to al
facts showing possession Of occupanc,
: of the Lobos Islands by Peru, and vii
5 not preclude discussion until after
= full investigat ion Of it shall show tina
. these islands are uninhabited and inca
= pable Of being legally possessed or hel'
= by any one nation.
Mr.. Webster adds that in conse
quence of considerations connected
&, with the case, the American Ministe
: at Lima has been instructed that prop
t er orders be given to our Naval force
A to prevent any collision until the cas-.
be farther examined Springfield
Republicdn.