The Portland daily press., 1882-02-01
BLAINE AND HIS CRITICS.
The Story of the Trescott Mission
FULL TEXT OF TIE INTERVIEW WITH
THE Ex-SECRETARY.

Blaine's attention to the statement in the New
York papers that the instructions to Mr.. Tres
colt, signed by him, had been drafted and COM
mitted to Mr.. Trescott without the knowledge
OF the President
After carefully reading the papers handed
him, Mr. Blaine said: "That statement is en-
tirely erroneous 1t has absolutely no founds-
in truth. The instructions were not only talk
ed over fully at length with the President, but
when written were twice read to him for criti-
cism and change. have the original draft In
my possession, with the notifications desired
by the President clearly noted 1t is incon-
ceivable that an extraordinary mission, impor-
tant enough to be mentioned in the annual
message TO Congress, could be allowed to leave
the country without the Presidents knowing
the instructions by which its actions should be
governed No friend of tho President could
possibly make that suggestion, and on his be-
half L repell it, The President specifically re-
ferred in his message to the instruction given
to Mr. Trescott, and, besides what possible in
terest could I have myself in sending an in
struction without the full knowledge of the
President? was to leave the Department in
fortnight, and would naturally taken care not
to send an instruction merely to have 1t reVok-
ed. In addition to all other considerations,
had had no desire to send Mr.. Trsscott on
FOOLS errand." .
Chow do you account for the change Of poll
| cy?" the reporter asked.
"That is none of my business, repl1ed MI.
Blaine. ''It is the undoubted right of the
President, as we'll as of private citizen, to
change his mind. Either President Garfield or
President Arthur saw every dispatch OF 1mpor-
tance that was sent, and no step was taken
without the full concurrence and approval 0i
the Executive. During the late Presidents Ill
ness no dispatch of any special moment was sent
either to Peru or Chill The dates will show
that have seen no reason TO change my minu
as to the wisdom Of the course marked out.
Time reflection, and the development OF events
have ali the more strongly confirmed me, and
1 fear that one result of the change VIII DO the
| utter destruction of the commercial interests
of the United States on the South Pacinc
coast"
II see' said the reporter, "that some papers
accuse you of an intention or desire 10 annex
Peru to the United States.
At this suggestion Mr.. Blame showed some
impatience 'fWhy," said he "you might as
well talk of annexing Terra del Fuego or tne
island of Juan Fernandez to this country. Mr.
Christiancy mentioned some such thing as be-
ing desired in Peru, but never thought 1t OF
sufficient consequence or importance 70 eau Ior
any comment. 1t was merely despairing cry
on the part of the down-trodden feruVlsns-
NV DISPATCHES on the Isthmus Canal question,
published by order of the President, dlselaimed
for the United States any desire tor territorial
ACQUISITION in Mexico or Central America. 1t
never occurred to me that annexation oil south
American territory called for disclaimer"
Upon being asked whether any attempt was
made by the United States Government 10 push
the claims of private citizens against feru, MI
Blaine said: ''On the contrary, that was care
fully and rigidly avoided. The Peruvian
Company was very anxious to secure the ac-
tive aid of the State Department, and look
special pains to guard the United States against
any committal. The agents OF the lndustriel,
of France, also asked that the Uuited States
would in some way help them In their enorts
to aid Peru telegraphed Mr.. Hurlbut IN
these words: The influence OF your position
must not be used in aid of the Credit Indus
triel or any other speculating or financial as
sociation.' Mr. Hurlbut's reply showed tnat
the caution was unnecessary The Cochet
claims 1 examined carefully, and as
result of my investigation instructed MI
Hurlbut not to extend the good offices OF THIS
Government on behalf OF 1t: This claim was
thrust upon General Hurlbut's attention by
Jacob R. Shipherd, agent of the Peruvian
companv and l was compelled to deal sum-
marily with it and with him. instructed mr'
Hurlbut to pay no attention to anything Mr..
Shipherd might write in regard to claims
aoainst the Government of Peru, and TO return
to the writers any letters relating to private
claims which had not been regularly referred
to him (Mr. Hurlbut by the Department. OF
State; and then laid down general prin-
cinIe TO be observed by diplomatic representa-
tiyes everywhere in these words: Legations
of the United States in foreign countries must
not be converted into agencies for the prosecu
ton of private claims
ssBut YOU did instruct Gen. Hurlbut to pros
ecute the I,audreau claim, did you not?"
'sNo. I did not 1 instructed Gen. Hurlbnt
to use his good offices with the Peruvian gov
ernment to the end that it would designate one
of its own courts or tribunals, before Wnlcn
and haV the 1uQtiCa of
his claim tested. L expressly stated that this
government would not undertake to construe
the contract or decide upon the compensation
due to Landreau. And L added, that wnlle
sour minister could not make an off1ciai de-
mand for the settlement of the claim, he could
use his good offices to secure its consideration.
Our minister at Lima had been authorized IN
in 1874 By Secretary Fish, to use his good OIL
ces in aid of the Landreau claim Inc House
of Representatives, in the last Congress, unani-
mously adopted a resolution requesting the
State Department to use its good offices, on be-
half of Landreau with the Peruvian govern
ment. This was very rare and excepuonai
act and placed the Landreau claim on 1li-
ferent basis from any other. The State De
partment could hardly decline to give the sim
pie instruction it did to our m mister"
''Did Gen. Hurlbut urge Peru to give Lam
dreau hearing in her courts?
ST doubt if he did; for in my final instruc-
tion on the subject used these words: But
the Landreau claim must not be pressed in
any manner that may seem TO onDarrass feru
in the hour of her great distress never
have heard that Gen. Hurlbut moved in the
matter after receiving this last instruction, or
indeed ever moved in it at all. =
ssButn said the reporter, statements have
been made that Landreau is not an American
citizen, but Frenchman, who died years ago
"Ouite the contrary" said Mr.. Blaine.
John G. Landreau is living, is citizen Of the
United States, with legal residence IN Louis.
lana, and is now, and has been Tor several
wears past, American consul at Santiago De
Cuba, to which post he was appointed Dy ten.
Grant. He is still understood to Dc tne owner
of the claim. As far as any other claims are
concerned, the State Department gs,,,,.,;., ,,s;,s,
iron-clad oath would .sss.s % any otnor claim
conpseis against Peru during my secretary
ship, and to this claim 10 the exeens oniy -
asking that Landreau might have the privi-
lege of appearing before Peruvian court anu
have his rights, whatever they might be declo-
ed to be by Peruvian authority
SIN an earlier part OF your remarks, yoa
smoke of Mr.. Trescott going on a fools errano.
What did you mean by that! ,,,
ST meant that there seems no possible need
of Mr.. Trescott being in Chilli, II he Is simply
there to be helpless witness OF the utter spoil
alton of Peru. That could have taken place
~ithont the presence of a special envoy Of the
United States, who, forbidden to protest, &C
tually appears as aiding and abetting the spell
alton. What 1 mean by spoliation appears
plainly enough from Mr.. Trescott's otficial DIS
match nuDl1Sn6Q IN lCdLuTudy ulOAuAhS P@Po%s'
He saws Chill demands the absolute cession OF
the entire province of Tarapaca, and, besides
that, twenty Millions payable in sixteen years,
during which time AFRICA is TO be occupied Dy
Chill, and if the twenty millions are not paid,
africa is to be absolutely annexed to Chill.
Besides all this, Chilli appropriates the guano
deposits of the Lobos Islands. Mr.. Trescott
adas that, if Peru refuses these conditions,
Chilli will thephecline the further mediation OF
the United States. In other words, Chilli is
willing and glad to accept the meditation OF
the United States, If that meditation can be
used to induce Peru to submit quietly to des-
truction. But if the United States envoy
cannot be used for that end, Chilli will have no
more to do with him, and he can pack up and
come home in the meek and lowly frame OF
mind that would beft such a returning jour
ney. The demand Of Chilli is equivalent to
the destruction of Peru, for the reason that It
takes from the latter country the great body OF
her guano and all her nitrate beds, and thus
deprives her Of her sources of revenue. What
Chilli is taking from Peru is relatively a lar
greater loss to Peru than the loss OF the eleven
seeding States would have been to the Ameri-
can Union-fsr greater than that; greater in
deed, 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. Precisely
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