The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-17
WASHINGTON.
Good Offices rendered to the South
American Belligerents.
INSTRUCTIONS TO OUR MINISTER'S.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON. August 16, 1879.
The important announcement is made, with an.
thority. that our government has instructed Minis
ter Christiancy at Lima Peru. and Minister Thomas
A. Osborn. tSantiago Chile. to communicate to the
governments to which they accredited that the
government of the United States deeply regrets the
unhappy condition OF affairs existing between Chile
and Peru which has led the two nations into open
hostilities and that while government
does not desire to thrust its mediation upon
the yet such is its regard for the peace and pros
perity of both that. should it be mutually desired.
we are very ready to our good offices to secure
an honorable settlement of the differences between
the belligerent vernments. whenever they shall
indicate that such friendly services would BIO
cepred. will bring about honorable peace.
These instructions forwarded by the
steamer which left Now York the
Both of June and have been communicated to tho
governments Of Peru and Chile. Sufficient time has
not yet elapsed for reply. but there is reasonable
hope on the part of government that the tender
made in the spirit Of friendship will lead to
ceptance of mediation and thus bring about
speedy termination of the
INFORMATION RECEIVED WARRINGTON.
The attention of the President called to the
facts concerning the of the in the official
dispatches of our Minister received last May and
during the latter part Of the month additional in
formation was laid before him OF such q character
as induced the belief that the mediation of
friendly nation would be accepted, and that the
United States, more than any other nation in
position to make such advances would be under
stood in the interest of honorable termination OF
the difficulties
THE VOLUNTEER DIpLoMATIsr.
Horace W. Fisher. merchant of Boston, who 10
largely interested in the commerce OF the United
10 in
and had interview with the President aud the
Secretary Of State in reference to commercial
relations with the South American republics and.
as it understood that he intended leaving for
| Chile the latter part OF that month, he
selected to bear official letters to our Ministers
and Consuls in Chile and Peru He is spoken OF as Q
very wealthy gentleman. Of large and influential
quaintance on the Pacific coast of South America,
and understands and fully reflects the sentiments OF
government in it's desire to promote better
derstanding between the hostile sections. He has
not. however. any official relation with govern
ment and special mission to accomplish. SO far
the United States are concerned. 1t Is, however,
true that he has an extensive acquaintance in Chile
| his personal friendships, it Is said. being among
! the most eminent statesmen In that country. He
he has also credentials to the Chilean Minister Of
Foreign Affairs. which will undoubtedly give him
unusual advantages in presenting the views of our
4
| to Minister Osborn.
FIRST.
1t is. then. possible that through his Intervention
the first advances asking for arbitration will como
from the Chilean government in which event 1t is
understood government will be under obligs-
tions urge with greater friendship npon Peru the
Importance of accepting the good Offices of the
United States in its desire to end the unnatural quar-.
| rel in which the two nations are engaged.
| IMPORTANT PRECEDENT.
This offer of mediation the part Of the United
States behalf of the interests of the South Amer
can republics is not without precedent for It was
| during the first term of President Grants adj
ministration that the mediation Of the United
States offered ana accepted toward re-
| lievng Chile Peru. Bolivia and Ecuador
shutting the allied republics Of the Pacific.
and Spain from the technical state Of war which had
existed the hostilites OF 1896. In April 1873.
the treaty concluded here in Washington through
the mediation of the nited States. by which gen.
era armistice truce should continue indefinitely.
and under the provisions Of tho treaty it can
not be broken until three years after notification
| by the belligerents, which notification must b
served through the of the United States.
1t will thus be that government has reasons
for wishing to promote good will between the two
republics now at war. and which have by treaty
compact already recognized the friendly Offices OF
| our government.
WHAT CHILEAN MINISTER
The Chilean Minister. Mr.. Osta Buruags, in con-
versation with the representative OF the HERALD
this evening. said he advised Of the step which
our had taken but. of course. could not
at present say what the prospects Of the offer
| of mediation being accepted by his own
government. He was not personally acquainted
with Mr. Fisher. whose arrival at Peru
was announced in to-day's HERALD. But there was
no doubt this American gentleman would use every
means ia his power to promote peace between Chile
and Peru. sharing as he does the friendship Of
prominent American statesmen and an intimacy
with the administration which will enable him to
speak with certainty of its good Intentions His
visit, the Minister thought. might be productive Of
| prcat good.