Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-12

To the restoration friendly relations between
the belligerent powers they will, upon proper
| intimation, be promptly offered Whhe,
therefore. no instructions are gwen you 10
tender ofiicially any advice to the govern
ment of Chilli, which is unsought. you will,
ON opportunity, as may occur, govern your
conduct and representations by the consider
atiops TO which shall nov call your atten-
ton.
Without entering upon any discussion as
to the causes Of the late war between Chilli
on the one side and Peru and Bolivia on the
other this government recognizes the right
which the successful conduct of that war
has conferred upon Chill, and in doing 50
will not undertake to estimate the extent to
which the Gillian government has the right
to carry its calculations of the indemnities to
which it is entitled. nor the security for the
future which its interests may seem to re-
Quire.
But if the Gillian government, as its rep
resentatives have declared, seek only a guar
antee of future peace, it would seem natural
that Peru and Bolivia should be allowed to
offer such indemnity and guarantee before
the annexation of territory, which is the
right of conquest 10 insisted upon. If these
powers fail to offer what is a reasonable suf-
ficent indemnity and guarantee, then it be-
comes a fair subject of consideration whether
such territory NAV not be exacted as the nee
essary price of peace. But at the conclusion
of war avowedly not Of conquest, but for
the solution of differences, which diplomacy
had failed to settle to make acquisition of
territory a sine qua non of peace, is calculat-
ed to cast suspicion upon professions. with
which war was originally declared. = 1t may
very we'll be that at the termination of such
a contest, the changed condition and relation
of all the parties to it may make readJust-
ment of boundaries or territorial changes.
wise as we'll as necessary, but this where the
war is not one of conques: should be the re-
suit of negotiation, and not the absolute,
preliminary condition on which alone the
victor consents to negotiate.
At this day when the right of the people to
govern themselves, the fundamental basis of
| republican institution, is so widely recog-
nized there is nothing more difficult or more
dangerous than the forced transfer of terri
tory. carrying with it an indignant and hostile
population and nothing but necessity prov
en- before the world can justify it. 1t is not
case in which the power. desiring the ter
ritory, can be accepted as safe or impartial
judge.
While the United States government does
| not pretend to express an opinion, whether
or not such an annexation of territory Is a
necessary consequence of this war, it be-
lieves that it would be more honorable to
the CHILEAN government. more conducive to
the security of a permanent peace and more
| in consonance with those principles which are
protested by all the republics of America,
that such territorial changes should be availed
as far as possible: that they should never be
| the result of mere force, but if necessary
should be decided and tempered by the full
and equal discussion between all the pow ers,
| whose people and whose national interests
are involved. At the present moment the
completeness of the victory of Chilli seems to
| render such diplomatic discussion impossi-
| Bile.
| The result of the conflict has been not only
| the defeat OF the allied armies but the disco
luton of all responsible government in Peru.
| Its soil is occupied the collection of its rev.
enues transferred to the conqmeror and its
executive, legislative and judicial functions
in allegiance. 1t can neither enforce order
within, nor assure peace without. An eff
fort, and apparently very earnest and hon
est one, has been made to create a provision
al government which shall gradually restore
order and the reign of law. But it is obvious
that for such government to succeed in OBJ
tanning the confidence either of its own peo-
pie or of foreign powers it must be allowed a
freedom and force of action, which cannot be
exercised while Chill holds absolute posses
sion and governs by military authority. This
government therefore has been lad to learn
from its minister in Chill, whom you succeed,
that Gillian authorities decided to give their
support to the efforts of Senior Calderon to
establish on a steady footing provisional gov
eminent in Peru. Far as you can do with
propriety, and without oficious intercession,
approve and encourage this disposition on
the part of the Gillian government, and this
department will be exceedingly gratified if
your influence as representatives of the
United States shall be instrumental in Undue
ing the government of Chill to give its aid
and support to the restoration of the regular
constitutional government of Peru, and to
postpone the settlement of all questions of
territorial annexation to diplomatic neogtia-
tons which can then be resumed with GER
tainty of just, friendly and satisfactory con-
clusion.
In any representations which you may
make you will say that the hope of the United
States is that negotiations for peace shall be
conducted and final settlement between the
two countries, determined without either side
working the aid or Intervention of any
European power, The government of the
United States seek only to perform the office
of a friend to all parties in this unhappy con
fict between South America republics, and
will regret to be compelled to consider how
far the feeling might be affected and more
active interpositon forced upon it by any
attempted complication of this question
in European politics.
If at any time you should adjudge it expe-
dent and advantageous to read this despatch
to the minister Of foreign affairs you are au-
thorized to do so. The decision on this point
is left to your discretion.
(Signed) JAS. G. BLAINE.