Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-13
BUNGLING DIPLOMATS.
THE SOUTH AMERICAN MUDDLE.
Secretary Blaine TO Hurlbut and
KilpatFick-TheR Relations of Uncle
Sam to Ghe Warning Republics
His Representatives Rebuked.

WASHINGTON, December IA further
installment Of the correspondence between
the State Department and our Ministers to
Peru and Chilli is furnished for publication.
In letter dated November %, Secretary
Blaine informs Minister Hurlbut that he
sees no occasion for q withdrawal of conf
denee from him, but that be would have
preferred il Hurlbut had held no commu-
nication with the Chilian commander,
Lynch, on diplomatic questions, as Lynch's
instructions naturally came from the Gillian
Government, to which we have an accredited
Minister. Mr.. Blaine adds that Lynch had
no right to ask or receive formal assurance
from the American Minister to Peru, as to
the opinion of his government, still less to
appeal to the United States Minister to Chilli
for criticism upon the acts of his colleague
in Peru. The proper course for Lynch to
pursue, IL he disliked the actions Of Mr..
Hurlbut, was to appeal directly to this gov
ernment through the American representa-
tive in Chill.
Mr.. Hurlbut's letter to Garcia, Pierola's
secretary, is disapproved of inasmuch as
Hurlbut was accredited to the Calderon
Government and could not officially recog-
nize Pierola's In any manner. Mr.. Blaine
also takes exception to Hurlbut's commu-
nication to the American Minister to the
Argentine Republic, suggesting that the
latter government send representative to
Peru, as being entirely without his prov
ince as well as likely to irritate Chill, which
is not on friendly terms with the Argentine
Republic.
AS to the communication with Peru for
a naval station at Chimbolt, Mr.. Blaine says
the arrangement is very desirable, but the
time is inopportune. Mr.. Blaine then con-
tinues: "Having thus stated with frank
ness the impression made upon the depart
ment by such information as you have fur
nished it, 1t becomes my duty to add that
this government is unable to understand
the abolition of the Calderon Government,
and the arrest of President Calderon him
self by the Chilian authorities, or l suppose
l ought to say by the Chiian Government.
IS the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of that
government has in an informal communica-
tion to Gen. Fitzpatrick declared the Calde-
ron Government was at an end. As we rec
ognized that government, as l supposed in
conformity with the wishes of Chilli, and as
no reason for its destruction has been given
US, you will still consider yourself accredited
to it, If any legitimate representative exists
in place of President Calderon. If none
such exists, you will remain in Lima
until you receive further instructions,
confiniag your communications with the
Gillian authorities to such limits as your
personal convenience and the maintenance
of the rights and privileges of your Lega-
ti0n may require. The complicated cOudi-
tion OF affairs resulting from the action of
the Chilian Government, the time required
for communication between the Legations
in Chill and Peru and this
department, and the unfortunate notoriety
which the serious differences between your
self and your colleague in Chill have
attracted, have, in the5opinion OF the Presi-
dent. imposed upon him the necessity of a
special mission. This mission will be charged
with the duty of expressing the views of
the President upon the grave condition of
affairs which your dispatches describe, and
IL possible with a due consideration Of
the rights, interests and susceptibility of
both nations to promote settlement which
shall restore to the suffering people of Peru
the benefit of well ordered government,
deliver both countries from the miserles
and burdens Of protracted war, and place
their future relations upon a foundation
that will prove stable, because just and
honorable"
In a letter to Minister Fitzpatrick, dated
November %, the latter is informed that his
letter is not approved by the department.
b1r. Blaine says: You had had ample Op-
portunity, and, as you before stated,
aysiled yourself OF II, TO make known to the
Government of Chill the scope Of your in-
structioas and to give it abundant assurance
of the friendly disposition of your own
government. If the conduct of Mr.. Hurlbut
in Peru had given sufficient ground for
complaint to the GILLIAN Government, that
complaint should have been made in Wash
ingtOn. MIR. Hurlbut's presentation speech
to President Calderon, his memorandum
to Admiral Lynch. his letter to Garcia aud
telegraphie reports from BueDos Ayres were
not subjects upon which you were called to
pass judgment, nor upon vi hich you should
have been interrogated by the Chilian Gov
ernment. Nothing in your conduct or Ian
guage had excited its apprehensions, and
no explanation was due or could have been
expected from you of language or conduct
of your colleague in Peru. l should have
been glad if it had occurred to YOU
to call the attention of the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs to the improperly
of such communication. And in referring
to the fact that your instructions, which
you were authorized to communicate TO
him, gave all the assurance which he could
either desire or ask Of the friendly feeling
OF the United States, / should have much
preferred that you had furnished him a
copy of those instructions instead Of sub.
mftting parsphrase, which does not fully
represent their spirit and meaning"