Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-04


lister could not make an official demand
for the settlement of the claim, he could
use his good offices to secure its consid-
Grafton. Our minister at Lima had been
authorized in 1874, by Secretary Fish, to
use his good offices in aid of the Landreau
claim"
"Was this the same claim which the
house of representatives indorsedY"
eyes," said Mr.. Blaine. 1.-The house OF
representatives in the last congress
unanimously adopted resolution re-
questing the state department to use its
good offices on behalf of Landreau with
the Peruvian government: This was
very rare and exceptional act and placed
the Landreau claim on different basis
from any other, The state department
could hardly decline to give the simple
instruction it did to our minister"
"Did Gen. Hurlbut urge Peru to give
Landreau hearing in her courtss"
81 doubt if he did," replied Mr.. Blaine,
"for in my final instruction on the sub
ject used these words:
"sBut the Landreau claim must not be
pressed in any manner that may seem to
embarrass Peru in the hour of her great
Distress
81 never heard that Gen. Hurlbut
moved in the matter after receiving this
last instruction." added Mr.. Blaine, cor
indeed, ever moved in 1t at all"
"But various statements have been
made that Landreau is not an American
citizen, but Frenchman who died years
ago"
"Quite the contrary" said Mr.. Blaine,
"John G. Landreau is living, is citizen
of the United States with legal resi-
dence in Louisiana, and is now and has
been for several years past American con-
sui at Santiago de Cuba, to which post he
was appointed by Gen. Grant. He is still
understood to be the owner of the claim. ("
"Do you mean to be understood as say
ing that this single claim is the only
ground for all this noise and clamor
about the state department pushing pri-
vate claims?''
81 know nothing about the noise and
clamor to which you REFER" said MIR.
Blame, "but know that the state depart
ment gave, as the iron clad oath would
say, no aid, countenance, counsel, or en-
couragement to any other claim whatever
against Peru during my secretaryship,
and this claim to the extent only of ask
ing that Landreau might have the privi-
lege of appearing before Peruvian court
and have his rights, whatever they might
be, decided by Peruvian authority"
s'In an earlier part of your remarks you
spoke of Mr.: Prescott going on fools
errand. What did you mean by that?"
81 meant" said Mr.. Blaine. "that
there seems no possible need of Mr.. Tres
colt being in Chill if he is simply there to
be a helpless witness of the utter spoila-
ton of Peru; That could have taken
place without the presence of special
envoy of the United States, who, forbid
den to protest, actually appears as aiding
and abetting the spoilation."
"What do you really mean by the spoil
alton of Peru?''
81 should think that was plain enough, :"
said Mr.. Blaine, ''from Trescott's official
dispatch, published in this mornings pa
pers. He saw Chill demands the abso-
lutte cession of the entire province of Tar
apaca, and, besides that, $40, 0O0,0 900 in
money, payable in sixteen years, during
which time africa is to be occupied by
Chill, and if the &c. 000, 900 is not paid,
africa is to be absolutely annexed to
Chill. Besides all this Chill approprl-
ates the guano deposits of the Lobos is
lands. Mr.. Trescott adds that if Peru
refuses these conditions, Chill will then
decline the further meditation of the
United States"
"Why what does that mean!"
Translated into plain language" said
Mr. Blaine, cit means that Chill is will
ing and glad to accept the mediation of
the United States if that mediation can
be used to induce Peru to submit quietly
to destruction. But if the United States
special envoy cannot be used for that end,
Chill will have no more to do with him,
and he can pack up and come back in the
meek and lowly frame of mind that would
befit such returning Journey"
"What is your reason for considering
the demand of Chill equivalent to the
destruction of Peru?"
"Because," said Mr.. Blaine, sit takes
from Peru the great body of her guano
and all her nitrate beds, and thus deprives
her of her sources of revenue. What
Chill is taking from Peru is relatively q
far greater loss to Peru than the loss of
the eleven seeded states would have been
to the American union. Far greater than
that; greater, indeed, than if the Pacific
coast had joined the rebellion and gone
out forever. That would have taken all
the cotton lands, all the sugar lands, and
all the precious mineral lands from the
United States, and would have destroyed
our power and our very existence. Pre-
cisely that fate is to be inflicted on Peru,
and Chill now permits the United States
to mediate only on condition that she will
promote this wholesale destruction of a
friendly republics destruction as COM
plete and as cruel as the partition of Po-
land"
"But, if Peru pays 1000, 900 in the
next sixteen years, is not africa to be re-
deemed, and perhaps, also, the Lobos
islands?''
81 do not precisely understand" re-
piled MIR. Blaine, ''from Mr.. Trescott's
dispatch, whether the Lobos islands are
subject to redemption or not. But no
matter whether they are or not, Peru is left
without the power to raise 10000, 900
cents. Chill evidently wanted territory
not the money. The Lobos islands would
sell at auction for twice $40, 000, 900, and
Chill will derive very large amount
from their ownership. africa and the
Lobos islands Will be as completely in her
possession as Tarapaca.'
"But, don't you think that Chill is en-
titled to war indemnity from Peru?"
"Of course she is, and all the instruc
tions gent ont from the department while