New-York tribune., 1882-03-11
THE MISSING LETTERS.

Within the past few weeks all kinds OF
statements and speculatiOns have been aflOat
in regard to certain letters missing from the
State Department files. The volume of Peru
Chilian correspondence gives some pertinent
facts which will alay, if not remove, public
curiosity in regard to the subject. 1t appears
to be the habit of the State Department to in
dex carefully all letters, and to record an abb
stract of their contents before placing them on
file. Eight letters thus ndexed cannot be
found Five were addressed by Mr.. Shipherd
to Mr. Blaine and three were addressed by
Mr.. Fisher to Mr.. Evarts. At what time the
loss occurred is not known. 1t was announced
about five weeks after Mr.. Frelinghuysen be-
came Secretary of State.
An abstract of the contents of each letter
is published. 1t does not appear from the
volume of dispatches that Mr. Evarts made
any answer to Mr.. Fisher or that Mr.. Blaine
made any answer to Mr. Shipherd.
From a hurried glance at the mass Of stuff
sent to the Department by Shipherd,
we Judge it to be not impossible that the in
dexing may have been erroneous, and that
two or three of the alleged missing letters are
really included in those published. The dates
suggest at least the possibility of this, both
in the case of Fishers and Shepherds letters.
In any event, Judging by the abstract, the
letters seem to be of little Importance. Here
is the official record of dates and abstracts as
published from the State Department:
Mr. Shipherd 10 Mr.. Blame, Nay 81 1881:
Peruvian Company organized for the purpose Of pay
ing the claims of American citizens against Peru for
violation Of guano contracts, foreign bondholders,
Cbian war Indemnity eto. providing Peru will give It
the right work guanobeds etc; prospectus of COM
pany with other papers ncOsed requests protection OF
tho United States"
Mr. Shipherd 10 Mr. Blaine, May 25, 1881:
Peruvian Company, prospectus Of with other papers
incl0sod asks that the documents be presented to Mr.
Hurlbut and that ho be granted an interview before
Ministers Fitzpatrick and Hurlbut 40 to their posts"
Mr. Shipherd 10 Mr. Blaine, May 81, 1881;
"Peruvian Company refers to conversation had with
the United States Minister 10 Peru and states that they
are ready advance money to Chill etc. providing the
United states will support them in their legal and
equitable rights etoI desres personal discussion with
President and Secretary of State relative to"
Mr. Shipherd 10 Mr. Blaine, Jane 4, 1881;
Peruvian Company transmits letters OF I'd instant,
addressed to s. A. IIurlbut, United States Minister TO
Peru giving his observations concerning tho plans. In
tentons and wishes OF tho company In their claim to
the Ownership of the guanO deposits discovered by Co
che etc. and requesting Minister'S comments thereon
Afr. Shipherd TO Mr. Biaine June 81, 1881;
"Peruvian Company submits q translated reprint of
an old Peruvian pamphlet relative to Coohst guano
claim"
Mr. Fisher 10 Mr.. ErartS, July 13, 1875
Neutrality OF the United States in tho Chilli and
Peru Bolivian war; torpedobOat shipped from tho
United States Peru seized by request OF Chilsn
Consul at Panama other shpments of similar nature
are expected suggests that the uaitod States Consul