New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-16
4 PEMdPK1BLE SCENE.

4 REMARKABLE SCENE.
The correspondence of Mr.. Trescot with
Secretary Frelnghuysen published yesterday
contains description of one of the most e.<
traordnary scenes ever recorded III dlplo-
macy. Mr. Trcscot, be it remembered, had
gone under instructions to use his good Offices
for peace,-at the same time asking from
Chill disclaimer of any intentional atiront to
the United States in Kidnapping Calderon. In
the improbable event that this should he re-
fused, he was to cease diplomatic intercourse
with that Government, which would not have
meant war, as many il-informed writer's for the
press seem to suppose. Here was delicate
mission, recurring, as at least one condition of
success, that the Gillian Government should
not know all the intentions of our Government
lust as success in any negotiation requires that
all ones plans shall not be known III advance to
the other side. Mr.. Trcscot and Mr.. Walker
Blaine had called upon Mr.. Balmaceda the
Gillian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to read the
invitation to the Peace Congress This is what
followed. We quote from Mr.. Trescots
letter:
explained to him Nlr Bamaceda) the pur-
pose OF Mr. Blainc's visit. To my great sur
prise he expressed the wish that Mr.. Blaine
would not regard the communication. and then
turning to me he said at is useless Your Government
has Withdrawn the invitation" Seeing, suppose. an
expression OF astonshmen which did not pretend TO
conceal he added: "YOur instructions have been
changed Your instructions rom Mr. BiaiHe mare Oceh
p0Gshed, ami others are on heir Wdy 10 yo" modYUHg
aour criminal instructions Ia rery important particulars
The whole question about Calcron is out Of the way,
and you are told to be entirely neutral" replied do
not understand that there is such thing CoderOH
question between Us and then said, "Do you mean Mr.
Secretary, that both my original instructions aud the
instructions from The present Administration are pub
lshed Z" He said Yes, before you hare rccered them
hare a telegram, not in cipher, bit Ope""; TO which
replied that supposed So because could not the
use Of cipher dispatch in referring to papers already
published He added ayes, they have been pub
lshed and will be soon published here IN La Iatr'0
IA newspaper lie then went ont of the room, and re-
turned with telegram which, he said, had come from
Paris only two days before, and Of which nc read me
the first line uhich. as rccoiiect, UdS
"The Blaine IrescOt instruction has bren p"b-
Rshed" and then paused smiling and looking
ouer The telegram as II he were uncertain rheher ne
should communicate the rest said: As you say That
all this f. confidential don't make half confidence Of IT,
If am to receire my instructions through you let me
Enop them in t,dL" He smiled. shook his head and
folded up the telegram saying This, however will
not ntsrrup negotations and then proceeded at
some length state why and to explain what he con
under the new instructions. said to him: That m0y
oil be So Mr. Secretary but M,nk hat dplomdiiSt Of
ordinary experience woud conclude. When he learns that
his instructions hare been communicated 10 me Government
toih cch he is negO0ting before he recereS them him
se that is time for him 10 be silent until he does reeere
them. think there must be some mistake about all this.
but at any Unjust decline to say word more until
learn from my Government what IL mas done ana what
it means me TO do"
Mr. Trescot addressing Secretary Freling-
huysen says;
"You will allow to express the hope that my con-
duct will be approved. My original instructions were in
the alternative, and if failed to obtain such settle
ment as the President deemed he mad a right TO
pect was directed take action which could have
been agreeable to the Gillian Government
could not suppose that such instruction couid be made
public wle raS eHdeaUorag 10 secure, and not Without
hope Of success the Gnicabe solution Of this delicate
and di1icun question still less could 6cepe that If my
original instructions had been seriously Odided, any
communication Of such change toOuId hGoe been 10
the public or eteH cOnHdentidHy 10 he Chi0n GOcern-
nen before could possibly hare reeeired IT, could not
admit what the secTetays clearly implied,
that did represent the wishes intention of my
Government, and that he better instructed than my
self as to the purpose OF my mission. But his Ian
euage and action evidently based upon his conf
dent knowledge of these supposed instructions. any
further conference with him useless until heard
from the Department."
This was one of the humiliatons at the
hands of a little South American Republic,
hardly larger III population than New-Yorl
and Brooklyn, to which President Arthur and
Mr. Bancroft Davis subjected the great United
States and its representative-for no conceivable
reason in the world except to crafty private
hostility to a distinguished American citizen.
Why did not Mr.. Freling huy sen telegraph Mr..
Trescot and let him know how and where and
when his instructions had been changed or
withdrawn Was the cost of telegTaphing in
the way9 Could the Gillian Minister at
Washington afford to telegraph what the State
Department of the United States could not 7
Mr. Blaine testified that tue President had
agreed with him that Trescot's instructions
should not be made public, and when he heard
they were about to be sent to the Senate he
protested TO the President against it. Mr.. Tres
cots testimony as to his understanding of the
matter when he set out on his mission would
be valuable. The committee will undoubtedly
ascertain it. Diplomacy of this kind disgraces
Ills IN the eyes of the world and is in the
highest degree censurabe. Mr.. Frelinghuysen
had the right to recall Alr Trcscot, OF " send