The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-06-14
THE CREDIT INDUsTRIEL.
Mr.. Blaine Again Appears Before
the Investigating Committee.
SEVERE CRITICISM OF a BRITISH
MINISTER.

WASHINGTON, June 13.-Iho examination
OF MIR. Blaine was resumed before the House
committee on foreign affairs this morning.
Chairman Williams called Mr. Blaine's atten-
tion to passages in the printed testimony of
Mr.. Robert e. Randall, relative to the Credit
Industrel
Mr.. Blaine in substance stated that Mr.. Ran
dall, who was an utter ftranger to him (Wlt-
ness) first approached him in February 1881,
sent his card to witness in the Senate Chamber
and began a conversation on the assumption
that he (witness) was to be member OF Presl-
dent Garfeid's Cabinet. He (witness) waived
the assumption. however, and, as far as possi-
BILE, the conversation. Witness had no reason
to belieye that Mr.. Randall would Intentional
ly mlsrepresent, but no such conversations as
he (RandalD had testified in regard to ever
took place; he (witness) did not look upon Mr..
Randall as the person with whom to discuss
the affairs of the Credit Industriel; the Count
De Montferrand, gentleman Of high stand
ing, was their direct representative, and both
he and Suarez had been very persistent in
presenting the objects Of the company upon
the attention of the State Department
Mr. Blaine then gave the purport of his first
interview with the Count de Montferrand, in
which the latter distinctly stated that tho
Credit Industriel proposed to furnith the
money to pay the indemnity which might be
demanded of Peru by Chill and to satisfy the
bsoaholders of Peru, provided the United
Stfss'S would accord a protectorate which
should guarantee to the company the undis.
turbed right to ship from Peru the products OF
the guano and nitrate beds for term of year.
s'Tbis,' said Mr.. Blaine, twas the plan of the
Credit Industriel. L don't think it has ever
been fully understood by the people Of the
United States or by the newspapers which
have been continually complaining that l
thwarted the plans of the company. don't
see how any intelligent American citizen
could advocate the adoption of such policy by
this government. / told the Count De Mont
ferrand that the action which he desired this
government to take was wholly inadmissible.
I assured him that this government did not
desire to obstruct his company If they could
succeed in affording relief for Peru; that the
United States would be glad to see it accom-
plished.
Mr.. Blaine then read letter addressed to
Mr.. Evarts and signed by Count De Montfer-
rand and Suarez, in which the plans of the
company were plainly stated, namely, to pay
an indemnity of e550,000 sterling per annum
for term Of years, and also the bondholders
of Peru, whose claims amounted to 5,00O,-'
900 sterling. Those bonds, said Mr.. Blame.
were held by citizens of Holland, Belgium.
France and England, and this adea of protec-
torate was always advanced in connection with
the purposes of the Credit Industriel Company
The United States were asked to reach out in
the dark and guarantee protection to q compa-
ny in furthering the interests OF citizens Of
four European governments, when it could ex-
ercise no control whatever over the operations
of this company.
Mr. Blaine fatty 5contradicted many of the
statements made by Mr. Randall. He said he
(Witness) never asked Mr.. Randall if Mr.. Hurl-
but as Minister to Peru would be acceptable to
his company and never intimated to him (Ran-
dall) what instructions would be given to Mr..
Hurlbut or to Mr.. Trescott. He asserted most
positively that the State Department never for
a moment contenanced the idea of an Amefi-
can protectorate sthe idea was never takenainto
consideration. The instructions which were
given to Mr.. Hurlbut and to Mr.. Trescott in
fact never had a lodgment in the State Depart
ment such policy would have been terrible
blunder on the part of this Government.
Mr.. Blaine took occasion to say that in his
opinion peace would ere this have been estab-
lished between Peru and Chill had not Mr..
Trescott's instructions been revoked; that
permanent peace never will be secured except
through outside pressure; that either the U nit
ed States must intervene. or let some European
power intervene; that in his (witness) opinion
the United States will soon be compelled to
take much more decided ground than he (wit-
ness) took; that the United States cannot play
dog in the manger and say, 81 won't intervene
or let any one else either" Mr.. Blaine was
asked if he desired to make any further state
ments, and replied that he desired to say in
reference to his former testimony before the
committee that in his allusion to English infiu-
enee he did not mean the English Cabinet, but
English influence ia the sense of British inter-
ests. He thought the action of the British
Minister st Lima Sir Spencer ST. John, was
reprahensible in the highest degree, and such
as, il lie had been an American Minister,
s---sld hsye ces5 him his position. DO
THAI stated -o1l1lsl nat4to which
he referred was the preparation by Sit
Spencer St. John Of o bogus treaty between the
United States and Peru, which he sent to the
Chilian Government, and which greatly in
censed them against Mr.. Hurlbut and the
United States that Mr.. Hurlbut called him to
task for it, and he replied that it was merely
joke. This reply" says Mr.. Blaine, +" Mr..
Hurlbut properly characterized as very
frivolous and indecent way OF getting
out of a diShonorable transaction" Mr.. Blaine
then added: "There is one other point in my
previous testimony upon which desire to
make q correction. | appear to have spoken
of the dirty Democratic press | should have
said the dirty portion of the Democratic press,
because all the better elements of the Demo-
cratic press in discussing this subject have Ia
ken high and patriotic grounds Ii had said
the dirty portion of the Democratic press and
the dirty portion of the Republican press
should have expressed myself correctly. And
now desire to put that sentiment on record.
The Committee adjourned till 10 O'Clock to-
morrow, when Mr.. Trescott will be examined
Mr.. Blaine and the Associated Press.
During his examination, Mr.. Blaine volun-
tesred to the committee statements concerning
what he termed complaint by the Associated
Press that he had obtained or exercised some
liberties connected with his testimony. He
said tleV we're OILY SUCH as u6 Hdu diWdlh
been granted, and he had learned with much
surprise that they had led to the removal of
the late Washington agent of the Now Y ork
Associated Press he then proceeded to read
a copy of letter addressed by him to the gem
eral agent of the Associated Press, in which
he stated that the corrections made by him in
the report Of his testimony were only such as
were essential to accuracy and such as hei IN
common with other witnesses make in official
reports of stenographers of the House. he
also, in this letter, while admitting the general
accuracy Of the Associated Press agents, ques-
toned their righ. to determine just what wit
ness said, and remarked that "courts OF JUS
tjee and official committees permit witnesses
to revise the reports of their testimony" Mr..
Rlaine further wrote: 81 have little desire OF
right to interfere with the appointment or
removal of your agents, but protest against
the assumption that WAS accorded any prIyl-
lsge with any testimony, save that whlch mas
been given witness, and which is essential to
justice and fair dealings. The letter concloG-
ed with the request it be given to the press.
Mr. Blaine went on to say that no notice had
been taken of this letter, but be understood ln-
structions had been given to Associated Press
reporters not to permit him to see the reports
of his testimony. Appealing to the reporter
for verifcation of this statement, reporter
replied he had tno special instructions on
this subject. Mr.. Blaine thereupon asserted
that during his twenty years in Washington
he never made speech OF much Importance
in the House or Senate or appeared as wit
/ ness without having the notes of the Associat-
ed Press reporter submitted to him, and no
protested that any instructions preventing such
opportunities for correction of errors would be
entirely unjust.
THE INDIANS AND THE COW
BOYS.
49,. rreeaa+ 20 1oooe,+ NEaoerrae