Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-24

WASHINGTON, March 2S.-Tha Post vii
print tomorrow morning an interview wit
ex-Secretary Blaine on the latest phase OF tn
Chilli Peruvian question. Blaine said he wa
not able to give an exhaustive review of tn
question, but the general result was precisel'
what be had predicted when Trescott's in
structions were revoked.
What do you mean by the general result
inquired the reporter.
mean, said Blaine, as said in January, tina
Peru is to be despoiled and destroyed, and tha
the profits of the spoilation are to be dis
tributed between Chill and the English
| bondholder and SPECTATORS who furnished
the money and guns and ironclads that de-
stroyed Peru. 1t is so advertised in Chillar
newspapers by the treasury department Of
Chilli. They have issued decree asking fol
bids for one million tons of guano to be ex'
tracted from the guano beds of Peru, now in
possession of Chilli. Every cargo must DE
paid for, so the advertisement runs, in good
sterling exchange, mark you. at ninety days
sight. One.half goes to Chilli and one.half to
English bondholders, and Chilli binds herself
to deposit so per cent. of the proceeds OF the
guano in the bank of England.
Did Trescott agree to this? asked the repor-
ter.
Prescott was forbidden, said Blaine, to say
one word about it, and was not permitted to
interpose any protest
How forbidden?
How? said Blaine. Why, in explicit terms.
See, here is what my successor IN the etate de-
partment says in his letter to Trescott, re-
voking his previous instructions. (reading
from a recently printed volume OF Chilli Peru
Wan dispatchesl: "The president wishes in no
manner to dictate or make any authoritative
utterance to either Peru or Chill as to the
merits of the controversy existing between
these republics, as to what indemnity should
be asked or given, as to the change OF bounda-
ries, or as to the personal government OF feru.
The president recognizes Peru and Chill to be
independent republics, to which he has no
right or inclination to dictate"
or course, confined Blaine, when Prescott
was thus made powerless the Gillian and
English bondholders had it all their own way,
with no one to modest or make them afraid.
Then it would seem as if TrescOtt's visit had
turned out in the interest of the English specu.
lators, suggested the reporter.
Undoubtedly, said Blaine, because Trescott,
under Frelinghuysen's instructions, had STOOD
there as q constant witness that the United
States would not in any event intervene. Even
If the indemnity demand took the last dollar
of Peru's property, or the last acre of Peru's
territory, Prescott was specially instructed not
to say one word in protest or opposition.
How did Trescott come to sign the proto-
col9 asked the reporter.
l do not understand he has signed any pro-
toeol. The dispatches are little confused.
but you will observe that the result to Chilli
and Peru is exactly the same whether our good
off poid IF fha
not 1t is simply question whether we
would actively aid her, or simply agree not to
aid her.
Does not the protocol change at all the pre-
vious demands of Child ?
l think, said Blaine, 1t enlarges those de-
mands somewhat beyond the indemnites ask
ed before Prescott arrived. Naturally enough,
when Chill found the United States was sure
not to interfere, she took all she wanted:
Tacna to her previous demands, be-
eides large strip of territory north
of Tarapaca. AS ] understand Chiu's de-
mands now, added Blaine, they include, first,
absolute annexation of Tarrapaca and a large
strip of territory immediately north of it.
These include all the nitrates and the great
bnlk of her guano. Second: Chill holds and
occupies the district of africa and Tacna NOM
inally for ten years, to be then released to
!
which they leave her no more power to pay
than if it, were twenty thousand. Area and
Tacna may therefore be considered perma-
nently annexed. Third. The Lobas islands are
to be seized and held by Chilli so long as there is
any guano on them. They have therefore taken
the very richest districts of Peru, including
all her nitrates, ard all her guano,
just as they designed at the outset, only they
were not sure, as they are now, that ths
Toif al Gtotoc
conditions were submitted to Prescott, he was
graciously told that his good offices would be
accepted to urge them upon Peru, but II he
refused to accede to them, then his good Of
fees must be considered at an end.
That can hardly be considered courteous to
the United States, can it, queried the reporter.
Why should it be courteous to the United
States? replied Blaine. Nations, like individ-
uals, depend for their position upon their
power and will to assert it. When Uriah
Heep thanked God he was ''umble," Master
Copperfeld took him at his word. When our
minister was instructed to make no authorata.
tive utterance, but merely to be seen and not
heard, and to act the part of weakness and
humility, Chill naturally concluded she could
use the power of this great government as
she chose, and thus sought to make Prescott
aid her designs upon Peru.
But ] do not quite understand, said the re-
porter, how Chill came to advertise million
ton of Peruvian guanO for sale before the
treaty was concluded or any arrangement for
peace made.
She did it on the principle, said Blaine, that
che shall take who has power, aud he shall
keep who can" 1t is an absolute conquest.
She feels so sure of her possession that she
need not wait for any treaty to be concluded.
She simply appropriates property with o
strong hand. When the United Stales refused
to ask for justice between the two republics,
and the strong English power was interested
was sealed. 1t is not yielded. Moreover this
million tons OF guano is offered
for sale in one block, and any bidder is require
ed to put up half million of dollars, so that
the decree of sale is merely mode of getting
the vast property in the hands of agents of
the Chilian and English bondholders. 1t
will be carried in English ships, making
larger freightage than the cotton of the Unit
cd States annually taken beyond the sea,
Mr.. Blaine, do You think the United States
could in any event have permitted the insult
without war?
q With entire ease, replied Blaine. There new.
er was such arrant nonsense talked as the pos
sibility of war with Chilli. The difference in
fla yor of the two countries renders the idea
of war ridiculous. We are too big to make
war on Chill and Chilli is too small to
make war on us. The moral power of the
United States, judiciously excused, could have
saved the autonomy of Peru.
Could it also have preserved all her terri
tory? asked the reporter.
am not entirely sure of that, replied Mr..
Blaine. Accession of territory might be
necessary In case Peru could not pay proper
indemnify, and SO Prescott was instructed,
but this always contemplated that Peru had
the alternative right to pay an indemnity, and
be in excess of a fair 1 indemnity. Fifty
millions would have amply reimbursed Chill
for her war expense. She has taken fifteen
hundred million worth of property from Peru,
merely by her strong arm: and the United
States has stood by in the person OF her special
envoy and instructed him either to say Eeth-
ing, or to say all was right.
great many believe, said the reporter, that
live use of our Influence would have done
no good.