The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-04
Peru AND ECUADOR THE ORIGIN or THE
WdH


the Picyune have noticed that misunderstanding be-
tween Peru and Ecuador has been, from month month
assuming more angry appearance until IL could scarce
ly go farther extreme without eventuatng ia blood
shed 1t reported few weeks since that the mat
tiers at issue were likely be anicaby settled but the
by the last steamer from the South Pacific does
not lend truth TO the AS, II should
between the two republics Bolivia, Chilli and Venezuela
may possibly become complicated it may be interesting
your readers TO understand the origin aud progress Of
the imbUglio, and have dotted down the facts for
them.
The proximate cause of the difficulties between Peru
and Ecuador was the buccaneering expedition of
President Flores with his California fbuster against
Guayaqul in 1852 which it charged that the then
Of Peru under the presidency OF Echenque,
sympathzed with, and connived at, 10y aiording
shelter and aid 10 the vessels of the buccaneers in her
ports That piratiea foray of Gen. Flores against his
country eventuated in ignominious failure but
course left much bad blood in Ecuador against Peru
Diplomatic relations between them, however were
restored aud Selor Saenz sent Peruvian min
lister TO Quito Pedro Moncayo and after him. DIR. Fran
cisco Aerre sent as Ecuadoran representatives to
Lima This apparently amcable state of their relations
continued until Gen Castillo through the agency of
successful revolution, into power in Peru in 1855
Soon after Gen Flores the hereditary enemy OF the pres
emit sdynastc party in Ecuador, offered asylum
in Peru by President Castillo and pension awarded
him. ostensby for his services in the of ndepend
ence.
This act of Castillas Vowed by Ecuador
neghborly and hostile to her. 1t brought her
most dreaded enemy in close proximity with her from
tiers where dangerous facilities would be afforded him
for iolnentng expeditions against the country and
the constitutional order OF things. The Ecuadoran
charge at Lima protested against these acts OF Peru
but receiving satisfactory explanation he demanded
his passports and went home and Senior Saenz was re-
called from Quito in the early part of 1850
This rupture of diplomatic relations continued until
1857 when Senior Juan Ccestno Caveo arrived in Quito
minister resident of Peru. He made his diplomatic
debut by sending despatch to the Ecuadoan govern
ment couchcd in rather impeous tone, on the sub
panying this first communication with bellcose protest
against the alienation of territory within district of
country comprising nearly the moety of Ecuador and
extending norhward and westward to Papellaca almost
in sight the city OF Qutoall which he claims is
in dispute between the countries and ought not to be
cuped by either until their respective claims are respect
lively adudicated
BY way of calculation it may here be remarked that
the holders of certain class old Colombian bonds for
which Ecuador became proporionaby liable agreed to
receive wild lands i'll part liquidation OF their claims
and it against the allotment OF lands under this
rangement that Senior Cavero protested lii further
PLANTATION OF the present imbrogo it is proper to state
that after the appearance of Senior Cavero in Quito
Col Andrcas Maria Alvarez, native Of Venezuela, but
who married in Lima, where he has been resident for
than thirty years came also to Quito with com
mission charge d anres from the then government of
Caracas The sole object Of Alyarezs mission it appear
ed in the sequel to advance certain pecunay claims
which President Flores who il native of Venezuela,
had made against Ecuador, he having ostensbly
ced all political pretensions in the last named country
And although the alleged purpose of Senior Caveros
sion the adjustment OF the boundary question il
believed and publicly proclaimed by the best Informed
persons in the capital that his main business to back
Col Alvarez in his efforts TO lay Ecuador under contri
button of not less than S30O,OOO as indemnity To Flores
for alleged losses OF property &C. and the earnesness
and zeal with which Senior Cavcro obtuded himself into
the business pertaining to Col Avarezs mission, viz
the claims and demands Of Gen. Flores confirmed that
belief in his uerior designs.
Much asperity OF language INDUCED in by both
Col Alvarez and the cabinet Mt Quito in the discussion
respecting Floress claims. Indeed, language
used by the latter side which might very readily be
strued insulting to the Peruvian nation and after
Col Alvarezs mission had been cut short and he had
left the country under 'potest Senior Cavero took up
the cudgels in angry and embittered correspondence
with the Ecuadorian government by way of rescntng
the aout offered in language in dispatches addressed to
Col Alvarez the representative of Flores he
commonly called Senior Cavcro became so wholly alb
sorbed in this and $50 far his ostensibe mission
concerned side issue, that II his understandable
assumptions and undipomatic abruptness in this last
respondence which led to suspension OF diplomatic in
tecourse with him. and the occurrence of which he
retired Guayaqul where he directed by his gov
eminent to await further instructions.
Recurring to his boundary discussion, it appears he
confidential letter to Sehor Oreiuela the New
Granadan consul IN Quito, in which he INDUCED in most
extraordinary declarations and assumptions alleging col
lusive and uorior designs the part of the dpo
matte agents well the governments of Great Britain
and the United States against the rights and sovereignty
of Peru in the region OF the Amazon river &c. &C.; and
Gen Castillo should succeed in suppessng the
Vvanco revolution at Arequpa the Peruvian marine
would take possession of the port and city of Guayaquil
d,yln ad hoataeR in favor of the claims of Peru
to the southern portion of Ecuador This letter found
its way into the Bogot newspapers and thus bruited
to the world in violation of the confidential njunctons
of Seor Cavero he alleges but he does deny its
authenticity This strange diplomatic nterlude of course
brought down the American and English ministers in
Ecuador upon the head of their Peruvian colleague, in
correspondence sufficiently spiced and somewhat attenua
ted.
As said Senior Cavero at Guayaquil awaiting
ders from Lima. About the 28th ult., two Peruvian
steamers of war; the Loa and the Tumbes arrived in the
Guayaquil river with dispatches from Lima in regard to
the imbroglio between the two governments and COM
prising, many surmised, utmatum in relation
thereto These dispatches sent by special express
to Quito, and the awaited with intense anx-
iey at Guayaqu but had not reached there at the sail
ing OF the mail steamer thence the morning of the %
inst.
II should be stated in this oonnexon that the cabinet
at Quito, ON suspending diplomatic intercourse with Sc
nor Cavero commissioned plenipotcntTy, in the per-
son of Sehor Francisco Pablo caza, Minister of FL
nance, to proceed to Peru to effect adjustment of
the pending difficulties if possible and the fact that Mt
the last dates from Lima, Seiior Icaza mission was not
suspended leaves to hope that the questions at
issue may yet have peaceful solution But there
many persons in Peru, of good deal of influence who
cndeavoriug to bring about war; to subserve
lutionary purposes. They believe that against
Ecuador would imperi the rule of Castillo, after he
had sent away considerable portion of his troops and
found foreign employ for his marine Echeniquc and his
friends would improve the occasion to assert his right
the presidential chair from which no ousted in 1855
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