New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-23
will laps, July !, 1880. No other grants lapse
within two ycars
AZ LyuENSE PRIgATE CLAIU.
A MAN WHY ASKS FoR 100000 600 FROM PERI
TIKI VNITFp STATES SOLICITED To hELP HIN

| frE0u THE EEGCLAE CORRESPONDENT or TnE TRiBUN".i
| WAsuiXGrCv. Feb 22.-Seyeral days arc petit
tioD for the relief of Jean Theophlle Landreau was
presented in the House of Representatives, Dy air
Ellis of Louisiana and referred TO inc committee
an Foreigp Affairs. Ii is based claim of pecu-
lar interest and significance. The petitioner wants
about $1,000 900 from the Republic of Prrn
TIE history Of the case illustrates. not only the
scientific ventures of modern times, bat some very
interesting points in the laws of contract between
Governments and individuals.
In 1874 Jean Landreau French citizen, then OF
| Lima Perm, bat now residing at New-N0rk, nnder-
standing that the Government of Peru had solemny
bound itself to reward in a specific nanncrany nd'-
yidual who should make discovery that would IN
crease the wealth of the country, determined IN he-
vote himself TO a careful scientific exploration ana
examination OF the territory Of Peru WITH view 10
discover deposits of guau0. the existence OF when
was unknown to the Government. After Twelve
years Of loborons research lac surveyed and located
a large number of immense and valuable cuaho
deposits previously unknown. chiefly because very
difficult Of access. Returning IN 1896 from ms
explorations he informed the Government OF MS
discoveries and III July of the same year fled per-
sonally a written declaration To that effect at the
Peruvian Treasury. His application was renewed
in December 1889 and followed by a petition to me
Minister Of Finance in January, 1859. His commu'
uicatou TO The Minister rccites the discoveries ahd
engages to point out the exact location ~ u'
deposits when the Government fixes the rrc"mpcl'''
In order to establish tho validity OF his claims
aganis, all preoccrIpaton rights which the Govern
ment of Peru might subsequently, advance. he de-
manded n specification of all known guanO deposits
under the Government control.
This pctition on reference To the Dircctor-Gcn-
eral Of Finance, was treated with such distinguished
consideration that Landreau was otira!iy invested
with an equitable interest in all deposits that would
prove absolutely new. AZ there was 10 law near
ipg OIL the case. the Minister Of Finance was the
only person who could name The value oi the shares
The petition was then referred to the Attorney
General who conceded with the views expressed
by the Directors of Finance and gave 1t rs
his opinion that the Minister, in accepting Ian
dreaus proposition. and providing that the de-
posts had never been known, should assign him
one-thrd interest III the guan0 discoveries III ac-
cordance with the sixth paragraph Of the vote OF
the Council of state, dated February il, 1888.
After numerous attempts Iandreau finally secured
from the Peruvian Government a published list "i
the recognized and known deposits OF guano ais
covered up TO that date. Landreau about TINS tIme
had good reason to suspect that other persons were
attempting to reap the benefits OF his discoveries,
and upon renewal OF his application for an official
with one in December, 1862, wherein his discover
les were not mentioned On this he based his pre-
tenso, that he was clearly entitled to his legitimate
| recompense Of one-thrd.
HIS last appeal vas met by the Attorney -'icneral
| who had succeeded VI. Nlllsran with proposal Tor
| a compromise, based on rules which provided That
| although the deposits discovered by Landreau were
| not mentioned IN the Government hst, stu they
should not be considered newly discovered deposits
| if they had been known 70 the central or
| local governments. or If gnano had bern
! taken from them for agricultural purposes;
and there was final stipulation that Land
| rean's claim, together with all questions
arising out Of IT, should he settled Icy proceedings in
| evil law. After numerous disappuItnenis ana
efforts to obtain settlement from Peru, the clam
of Lan,lrcau appears to have been substantially
accepted hy the Government under date oi October.
| "a 500, by decree granting him IA Te'ompensr OF
TO- : 6, ! aud per cent, respectively, on The hrst
| five successive million tons III guano. landreau
| accepted these terms. and contract was accord
ucly drawn up between him and the Government,
| and signed in the presence of Claudlus Suarz. a
notary If Lima
Shortly after the signing Of this contract the
revolution Of Prado took place. followed b. aseres
of political commissions which caused tins question
| TO remain in statu quo until Jose Bata became
ury became exhausted. The Government was IN
great financial straits and ii was found necessary
| to devise some means 10 meet tie approaching
| oblipal ions and relieve the financial pressure. Al
this Iunc;uTc President Balta sent Tor landfcaii
and informed him that :dulin2 me fcF0idUoh ne
lists of newly discovered deposits had been lost.
and requested him TO furnish another COPY.
| President Ralta caud!dly confessed that he
| relied mon tLc dcposits discovered by Iaudr'au
10 save the credit of the Republic and 10 tide over
the financial trouble. the press IN Erslan" com
a., e were \
| iajlstcd, and demanding fresh securities. Inc
emergency great, and President Balia prom
std to pay l.andrrau not Only me terms StphIatcn
in the signed contract, but offered Ia make II al me
rate of go per upon all deposits that lie would
show To the Government IN excess OF ',Ooo'uoo
tons THIS promise, 20 III" brief sets forth was
| sulcmnly made upon the Presidents word OF honor,
| III the presence Of Mess. Garcia CaderOn, Pedro
| Gavez and La Roaf, The Ministers OF Finance,
| State and Justice. Upon the following day. con
| fding in the pledged word IT The President OF Tie
| Republic Landreau, ON the 9th OF December SOS,
| handed to the Minister OF Finance copy OF the
'geographIca! list Of deposits discovered by nm.
On December y the President issued n decree
annulling the contract Of hovemoer, 1850. hu'
accepting the discoveries of landreau, and propos-
ing 10 have It's deposits examined oy commission
to be headed by Landrcau. On JANUARY iolo|-
ing, the proposed commission was named by the
| Minister of Finance.
BEFORE the commission went into effect Calderon
| retired from the Ministry and was replaced 10y
and followed this by resuscitatng the Peruvian
| credit by means Of publications III England III re-
| gard TO Landreau's freshly discovered gnano de
pOsits 49,.
| The brief now submitted TO the House committee
| by Colonel Robert Chrlsty, attorney Tor the
claimant, proceeds to recltc that. III conclusion,
the Government of Peru III December, 1873,
| ordered commission of engineers to cN-
anime the islands and coasts Of Peru,
To measure and value whatever deposits OF gGano
they might find. The comni.si went ahead With
! out IandTeau but protest from li!c fTcAch Min
| lister at Peru the Home Minister Of Foreign ltoa-
! tons pledged his Government to liberal comp'n,
sation for Landreau in case the deposits Should
prove of value. The matter was, however nope
| iessly complicated by the Government Offering a
i - ..t..t A... Il. ..IL Nm