New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-06-15
Mr.. SEW1RD As MEDIATOR.

Government, and letter from the Chillan
Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Minister OF
that Republic in Peru, both communications
relating to proposal which it seems Mr..
Seward unolhcaly suggested. on the 9Th OF
October last, TO Mr.. Barrcdn. looking to tue
settlement of the differences between spain on
the one hand and Peru and her allies on the
other. AS Mr.. Barrcda states, at the close OF
his letter. that he had submitted to Mr.. Seward
that portion of it which details his tMr Scwards)
project of paCiGcatI0n. we may regard 1t ~
faithful embodiment 'of the Sccre'ary's views.
His project is that 1.-THE President OF the United
Estates should address notes drawn up in deu-
teal terms. 10 the allies rs we'll as 10 spain.
setting forth the importance OF bringing the
"war to an end and inviting them to send plen-
ipotentiaries TO Washington These latter 1t
is added. "when assembled in a Congress
under the unbiased presidency Of me Department
"of STATE. will enter into negotiations with each
other for peace" If they disagreed. the Prcsi-
dent of the United States might choose an
Arbitrator who should decide thereon" MIR.
Barrcda approves this plan, being OF opinion
that il "would satisfy The demands OF urUor1
honor. and of the nation, dignity. a. well as
the aspirations of all South America HIS
reasons for this opinion are given without dis
guise. He says From the moment that
"Spain binds herself Ia defend her case IN
" Congress of American Plcnipoicntiarie,. and
con American soil. from the moment that she
accepts the arbitra,ion chosen by the Prc'i-
"dcnt of the United States. her moral defeat
"will be assured. and it may be- sad that her
Influence and prestige in America being Cor.
lever at at end. the loss of her control over
the colonies which she now holds cannot he
delayed for many years This Nj BIrroda
gives IA the result OF long con
vcrsation with Mr.. Seward held in the
evening, after au excellent dinner no
doubt; at all events, Il conversation in
which both, as the Minister expresses II. Z" TOOK
"tbe ground of complete frnnkncss in treating
"on the subject" This may be very sltisflc-
tory to the Peruvian Cabinet. if its members
believe il; but it will not present very strong
induccment 10 Spain lin Gaze she credits the
completely frank disclosures of Mr.. Seward) To
come and be sbom of all lTer influence and
prestige in America. 10 accept an arbitration
which will assure her moral defeat, and will
result within q few years, IN the loss OF all her
American colonies. We wish we could be bet
ter assured than we are that IT this Con
tinental Congress should happen To hold its
sessions mt Washington, under the Presidency
"of the Department of State" our worthy Sec
rotary could be depended on, not to turn the
cold shoulder to Spain, setting aside all her
claims as foregone conclusion, but to decide
impartially between an old European mon
archy. strong even in her dccadencc, and the
ol,a
opposed Hitherto the powerful nations of
Europe have been not only most respectfully
treated-that is due from nation 10 an
Other-but tendcrly dealt with by our Sccre-
tary of State. la what Il delicate, kid glovcd
manner was France addressed by him. when in
despite of solemn pledges put forth III treaty. and
repeated in proclamation, she invaded McxicoY
Has he been equally polite 10 weaker Powers!
If he he not much belied, some of these very
South American Republics which he now pro-
poses to patronze, including Ecuador, have
been. in times past, snubbed by him in
measured terms The Gillian Minister for
Foreign Affairs, evidently an old bird not
easily caught with chaff, seems to have a
objection, or "a prcsentmcnt, Of some such cool
reception. Iio says when we strip Mr..
Stewards idea of its vague and uncertain sur
"rOundings, and look at it in a practical sense.
sit is easy to see that the International Congress
cat Washington would lead to no solution
"and that, in the end the basis of peace
would have to be settled by the arbi-
TRAITOR, who would have TO be named after
"frutIcss discussions. Well. them he adds
we will never consent TO submit to the
decision of an arbitrator the power to qualify
the bOmbardment of Valparaiso" A little
further on he says, with much reason: "Were
it possible for us to enter on the path pointed
out by the Cabinet at Washington (g) it should
"bc not for the purpose of discussing petty
Questions but to establish solid principles and
lasting rules Of International conduct so as
to afford solid guarantee for our Republics
and allow them to return to peace, after
having obtained security and indicated their
"honor. Among these principles there should
figure an explicit condemnation of the
bOmbardment Of defenseless ports, and
"the exemption from capture of private
property ahoat, SO as fully to carry out
"the now defective principle of the abolition Of
"prvatcerng, just as Prussia and Austria put
ait in practice recently" NJ. Alvaro Covarru-
bias Chat is the CHILEAN Minister'S namc) takes
sensible view OF the ease. We have no more
right to require Chill to submit to arbitration
the question whether Valparaiso was rightfully
or wr0ngfully bOmbarded than England or France
had, during our late civil war, to updertake to
decide for us whether the integrity of our Gov
eminent should he preserved or abandoned.
Beyond question, there will, in the progress
of civilization. BIO international tribVnelA,