Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-25
TREscoTT TO BLAINE.
LETTER FROM THE LATE SPECIAL ENVOY II
THE Ex-sECKETARY


THE Ex-sECkErARY.
WAsHISeros, July 24.-With the view
OF clearing up certain points in the invests
| CATION of the South American policy, Tres
colt, late special envoy to Peru and Bolivia,
mas addressed ex-Secrelary Blaine the fol-
lowing letter:
sYoRK. Me-. July II, 1882.
To the Hon. James G. Blaine:
DEAB SIR-I am in receipt of yours AK
ing me, az late special envoy of the United
States to the belIiserents in South America
to state my knowledge of certain matters
connected with your administration as secre-
tary of state.
Firss.-From your formal instructions to
me, and personal consultations had with
you before my departure on that mission,
l have never been able to zee that there
was any ground for Misunderstanding or
misconstruing your position in regard 10
the Credit Industrial. 1t has been con-
sistent throughout, as 1 understood it.
You always expressed yourself to me as
DESTROYS that the Credit industrial might,
if possible, be made upon Peru in her dis
tress, but you were entirely unwilling the
United States should make the programme
OF that company part of their own negstia-
tions, or assume to guarantee any arrange
ment which it might make with the Peruvian
government. You did not favor the project
OF = protectorate over any part of South
America. Your idea was to leave Peru free
to negotiate with the Credit Industrial, and
you instructed General Hurlbut, and after
ward myself, to report the result of such ne
gotiations to the department. What action
might be beyond that was necessarily for the
decision Of the government, and its policy
would in all probability have depended
largely upon the report made by the minis
ter. as matter of fact, neither General
Hurlbut or myself were ever called upon to
take any action in regard to the Credit In
dustrial during our respective missions in
South America.
Seeond.-As to your designing war, that
superstition is too absurd for serious consid-
Grafton. IL you had any such purpose it
was carefully concealed from me and 1 left !
for South America with the impression that
would have completely failed in my mis- |
sion If did not succeed in< obtaining an |
amicabe settlement in the differences between |
the belligerents. You will allow me to add I |
would have declined the mission if / had |
thought otherwise. As 1 understood you
your object was by q frieRdly solution of |
the existing difficulties to prepare the way for
the meeting OF peace congress at WASH
lngton, when you might establish such rela-
lions between the republics of the two
Americas as would prevent the possibility |
Of another war. But fer = strange miscon-
,eption for which cannot account, which
reached and misled the Gillian cabinet
through some Of the leading and influential
papers OF the United States. I believe that
purpose could have been ACCOMPLISHED !
lnder your instructions.
Ihird.-ln regard to the Cochet and Lam
iresu claim, ii is sufficient TO say you re-
ected the first absolutely. As to the second,
Iou instructed General Hurlbut to ask at the
roper time, if such request should come,
hat Landreau be heard before the Peruvian
ribune in support of his claim, and that in
ase OF peace providing for cessiou of
Peruvian territory, the condition of his claim
hould be brought TO the attention of Chill
nd Peru. This instruction, as stated in
our dispatch, was made in view of the fact
hat numerous claims of Europeans for fabu-
ous amounts were being pressed and you
'ere anxious, as you expressed il, to see thst
'eru would not be exhausted 10 the settle
tent of the claims Of foreigners 70 the preju-
ice of the one belonging to an
.merican citizen. This notification would
OF have interposed an obstacle 10 the
onclusion of the treaty of peace, but
ould have simply signified to both parties
nat its provision could not put aside any :
ghts which Laudreau might be found to
ossess. After impartial judicial investiga-
on and under the restrictions of your in :
ructions General Hurlbut, although him
If approving the justice OF Iandreaus !
aims, in his dispatch of September IA,
s81, never brought it in any way to the
of the Peruvian government. !
turing my mission to South America |
ever referred to it, SO that in point of fact Q
uring your secretaryship the Landreau
aim was never mentioned, either TO the
lillian or Peruvian government, by the
inisters of the United States. 1t could Q
,t, therefore, have affected the then pend
g diplomatic questions IN the remotest de- Q
zee. Yours, very truly and respectfully.
VIM. HENRY PRESCOTT. a