The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-02-09
Interview With Mr.. Blaine.
CONCERNING THE RECENT CHANGE IN OUR
CY TOWARD CHILL

The Washington Post has published
the following interview with eXSecretary
Blaine upon the subject of the recently
printed diplomatic correspondence relat
ing to Chill and Peru. Concerning the
published statement that the instructions
to Mr.. Trescot had been drafted and com
mitted to Mr. Trescot without the knoWl-
edge of the President, Mr. Blaine said ::
"That statement has absolutely no foun-
! dation in truth. The instructions were
not only gone over at length with the
| President, but, when written, were twice
read to him for criticism and change.
have the original draft in my possession,
with the notifications desired by the
President clearly noted" Referring to
the change of policy inaugurated by Sec
rotary Frelinghuysen, Mr.. Blaine says:
at is the undoubted right of the Presi
| dent, as it is ola private citizen, to change
| his mind. | have seen no reason to
change my mind as to the wisdom of the
course marked out. Time, reflection and
the development Of events have all the
more strongly confirmed me, and fear
| that one result of the change will be the
utter destruction Of the commercial in
| terests of the United States Oh the south
Pacific coast. Il see" said the report
er, that some papers accuse You OF an in
tention or desire to annex Peru to the
| United States" At this suggestion Mr.
Blaine showed some Impotence. "Why."
| said be, ''yOu might as well think of an
neXing Terra del FuegO or the island of
Juan Fernandez. My dispatches on the
| Isthmus canal question disclaimed for the
| United States any desire for territorial
acquisition in Mexico or Central America
1t never occurred to me that annexation
of South American territory called for 4
| disclaimer" Upon being asked whether
any attempt was made by the United
| States government to push the claims of
| private citizens against Peru, Mr.. Blaine
| SAID. con the contrary, that was care
| fully and rigidly avoided" Referring to
| the Landrau claims, MI Blaine said
John c. Landrau is living, is a citizen
of the United States with Il legal resi-
dence in Louisiana, and is now and has
been for several years past American
consul at Santiago de Cuba, to which
post he was appointed by Gen Grant"
| Again referring to the change Of policy
toward Chill, he continued: "There
seems no possible need Of Mr.. Trcscot
being in Chill, if he is simply there to be
the helpless witness Of the
UTTER SroLIATIoN OF PERU.
That could have taken place without the
presence of a special envoy of the United
y-hp fo,IiIAn,, Il,
| ly appears as aiding and ahettInL the
| spoliation. What | mean by Spoliation
appears plainly enough from Mr.. rrescot's
original dispatch, published in Saturday
mornings papers He says Chilli demands
| the absolute cession of the entire province
of Tarapaca, and beside that, 100000,
600 in money. payable in l6years, during
| which time africa is to be occupied by
| Chill, and, if the so, 600, 600 is not paid.
africa is to be absolutely annexed to Chilli.
Besides all this, Chill appropriates the
guano deposits of the Lobos islands. Mr.
Trescot adds that, if Peru refuses these
conditions, Chilli will then decline the
| further mediation of the United States.
| In other words. is willing and Glad to ac-
cept the mediation of the United States.
| if that mediation can be used to induce
| Peru to submit quietly to destruction.
But, il the United States special envoy
cannot be used for that end, Chill Will
| have no more to do with him, and he can
| pack up and come home in a meek and
lowly frame OF mind that would beft
such returning journey. The demand
Of Chill is equivalent to the destruction
of Peru, for the reason that it takes from
II, l.