The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1882-02-04
BLAINE TO ARTHUR.
AN APPEAL I'm BEHALF A PEACE
CONGRESB OF AMERICAN
NATIONS.
TIE Ex-sEcRKTARY OF STATE ADVISES
THE PRESIDENT TO CONSIDER
WELL THE EFFECT OF RECALL
ING THE INVITATIONS To
THE AMERICAN PEACE
CONGRESS.
WAsHINeToN, D. c., Feb. 5.
To the President Of the Uoited States:

| 10 Tue fIesiuent OF the U 0lted States:
The suggestion Of congress of all The
| American DAtlOns to assemble in The
city OF Washington for the purpose OF
| agreeing on such basis of farbitraLion for
inter II atiOnsl troubles rs would remove
all possibility Of war IN the Western
Hemisphere, was warmly approved by
your predecessor. The assassination OF
July prevented his issuing the invita-
tiOns 70 the American States. After
your accession to the Presidency | ac-
quainted you with the project and sub
united to you draft for such an invita-
LiOp. You received the suggestion with
the most apprt c'atIve consideration, and
after carefully AxAmining the form of
the invitation directed That 1t be sent. 1t
was accordingly despatched In Novem-
Der 70 the Independent Governments Of
America, Moth ana South, ,incladlng all
fr' N The Empire OF Biazil 10 the small
est Republic. In communication ad-
dressed by the present Secretary ofState
on the 9th Of last mouth to Mr.. Trescet,
aud recently sent TO the Senate, / was
greatly surprised TO find proposition
looking to The annullInent of these invi-
tatioDs, aud was st II more surprised
when read the reasons assigned.
quote Mr.. Frelingbuysen's language:
''The United States is at peace with all
eNAtionsof the Fart h, ,snd the President
wishes, hereafter, to deteTmIp whether
Il will cOnduce to that general peace
which bo would cherish and promote for
this Governmert TO enter into negotia-
tions aud consultation for the promotion
OF pace with selected frienuly natiou-
Adties without extending 3 like conf
dence 10 other people with whom the
United States 10 on equally friendly
terms. If such partial confidence would
create jealousy and i'll will, pta,e, the
object sought by Such consultation would
not be promoted. The principles col :
t:olllng the relations Of the republics OF
this hemisphere with other nationalities,
may, on investigation, be found TO be so
we'll established that little would be
gained At this time BY reopsning q sub
ect which is not novel "
II correctly apprehend the meaning
OF LLase words 1t is that we might offend
some European powers If we should
bold in the United States = congress OF
the "selected nationAlities Of America"
This is certainly q new posit on for the
United States TO assume aud one which
| earnestly beg you will not permit this
Government to occupy. The European
powers assemble In congress whenever
an object seems to them of sufficient
importance to justify 1t. | have never
heard of their consulting the Govern
ment of the United States 10 regard to
the propriety of their 80 assembling, DOR
have 1 ever known of their inviting an
American representative TO be present,
nor would, there. in my judgment, be
any good reason for their so doing.
Two Presidents of the United States
in the year 1881, adjudged 1t to be ex-
pedient that The American powers
should meet In congress for the sole
purpose Of agreeing upon some basis for
arbitration of differences that may arise
between them, and for the prevention,
rs far as p' ssible, Of war In the future.
II that movemenet Is now to be arrest
ed for fear that IL may give ofense lp
Europe, the voluntary humiliation OF
this Government could net be more
complete unless we should press the
European Governments for the privilege
OF holding the congress. cannot con-
ceive how the United States could be
placed In q less ehviabie position than
would be secured by sending in Novem-
Der Q cordial invitation to all the Amer
ican Governments to meet in Washing
ton for the sole purpose Ot concerting
measures of peace, and in January re-
calling the invitation for fear thai
1t might create ''ieAlouslY and ill-Will"
on the part Of monarchial Governments
In Europe.
1t would ba difficult to devise a more
effective mode for making enemies OF
the American governments, aud 1t
would certainly not add to our prestige
In the European world. Nor can see,
Mr.. Presldent, how European govern
ments should isel Jealousy and ill-will" |
towards the United States, because of |
an effort on our part to assure lasting
peace betweeL the nations OF America,
unless, indeed, 1t be the interest Of
European powers, that American ma
lions should at intervals fall into war,
and bring reproach on Bepulican govern
ment. But from that very circumstance |
see an additional and powerful motive |
tor American gOvernments to be at peace |
among themselves.
The United States Is indeed at peace |
with all the world, as Mr.. Frellnghuysen |
we'll says, but there are, and have been, |
serlous troubles between other American |
nations. Peru, Chilli and Bolivia, have |
been for more than two years engaged |
In desperste conflict. 1t was the for
tunats intervention of the United States
last spring that aveIted war bttween
Chill and the Argentine Republic. Gual-
emAla is at this moment asking the U nit
ed States to interpose its good offices
with Mexico to keep off war, These i'm
portant facts we're all communicate d In
your late message to Congress.
1t is the existence or the menata of
these wars that Influenced Pres ident
Ga'field, aud as supposed influences sd
yourself, to desire ( eldly confe ence
OF all the nations of America, to devise
methods OF permanent peace aud conse-
qnet prosperity for all, Shall the Unit
ed States now turn back, hold alo II and I
refuse to exert its great moral power tor
the advantage Of its weaker neigl b ,rs?
II you have not formally and hually |
recalled tho invitations to the peace |
Congress, Mr.. President, beg you to
consider we'll the eject of SO doing. |
The Invitation was not nina IL waa