Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-27
Mr.. Blaine and Young Belmont

The following is the full report Of the
colloquy between Mr.. Blaine and Mr. Bel
mont, from which the latter emerged in very
demoralized condition:
was very much struck with a sentence in
the printed report of the testimony. (page
1897 where Mr.. Belmont, a member of this
committee, stated as predatory to a question
As follows
''On the 10th of December. Mr.. Blaine wrote his
last dispatch to south America, in which he says in
effect that there shall be treaty Of peace without
arccognitlon of the Landrrau claim"
Mr.. Belmont, (interrupting)-I suppose
that all questions in re gard to my examination
will come up more properly when | have a
right to question you.
Mr.. Blaine-Yes.
Mr.. Belmont-And do not care to enter
into discussion at present.
Mr.. Blaine--l was proceeding to comment
upon il. A member OF this committee is
pleased to to construe what | said in this way
(again quoting from Mr.. Belmont's question }
What said was as follows. in a dispatch to
Mr.. Prescott. of Dec. l6, 1881:
"while disabusing the mind OF the Gillian Govern.
ment Of any impression that the United States medi
tates Intervention on behalf of private claims beyond
the use OF its good offices. will that Justice
seems to demand that Iandrcau should have an op-
tribunal in Peru competent TO decide it, and that
decided iu hi favor. treaty of peace which might
cede territory TO Chill should be made i'm sre.
gard OF any rights which Mr. Landreau may be found
amer an impartial judicial investigation to possess
Further than this the Department of state has not
felt authorized to 60. and must express tn. hope
that the Governments of Peru and Chilli to both of
which you accredited. win recognize the moder.
alton and justice of the request made by this
Government"
And Mr.. Belmont translates that into a
1oS.1n t,At. hx-, tl,at e.
shall be made unless the Landreau claim is
provided for. That is the freest translation
Of plain language that l have ever read
Mr.. Belmont-As l stated before, prefer
not to enter into discussion now.
Mr.. Blaine-I ann not here for discussion.
am here for examination.
Mr.. Belmont-But you say it is free
TRANSLATE, n.
Mr.. Blaine-You simply put words in nv
mouth there which never uttered.
Mr.. Belmont-1 do not think ANYTHING OF
the kind.
Mr.. Blaine-Then you are incorrectly re.
ported.
Mr.. Belmont-I think that am correctly
reported; but think it preferable to wal,
until my turn for examination comes, and
then l will explain what mean.
II only maintained that you were quoting
language that never used.
Mr.. Belmont-It is not necessary to say sc
at present. l will say what mean when
the time comes.
Mr.. Blaine-On page l22 of the testimony
Mr.. Belmont again quotes me as saving in nv
dispatch of Aug 4th that mo treaty of peace
between Chilli and Peru shall be made unles.
there is recognition of Landreau's claim
~ prior lien upon any territory which Peru
might be required to cede to Chilli" l an
at q loss to find any such language in m,
own despatch. / merely notify Mr.. Belmon
90 that he can at the proper time show where
It exists.
Mr.. Belmon.-Certainly. As there wer,
no courts in Peru at that time, considered
that the claim could not be adjudicated; bu
Of course all these questions will come VI
later.
Mr.. Blaine-Yes. All that I objected t.
was that you put in quotation marks and at
tributed to me language which never used
Mr.. Belmont-So far as quotation mark.
10, that is q mistake.
Mr.. Blaine-Then you do not attribute tina,
language to me?
Mr.. Belmont-T say that the quotation
marks are probably mistake.
Mr.. Blaine-Do you mean still to saw tina
you attribute that language to me as beins
used BY me or as being quotable from my
dispatchf
lCr. Belmont-I mean this-
Nr. Blaine. (inserruptins) ~ don't care Y