New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-30
COMMENT ON TREsCoTs INSTRUCTIONS.


WASHINGTON. March 29.-The publication of the
correspondence between Mr.. Frelinghuysen and Mr.
Trescot creates much and curious comment here.
1t is singular for instance after all the Admlnlsra-
ton papers have been upholding Chilis demands
as proper and just and moderate, to hear Mr. Ere
hnghuysen on February "a instruct Mr. Trescot
that those demands are "exorbtant," and further
THAT the time had come when Chilli might be
magnanimous and just" He further instructed
Mr. Trescot that liberal war indemnity might be
paid but that in demanding Tarapaca, Chill asked
too much.
Mr.. Frelinchuysen then goes on to say that to de-
mand of Peru this valuable province and
S2O,OOOOOO in addition, with a disorganized
Government provinces in anarchy and q despoiled
territory is to ask for that which Peru in all prob
ability cannot render" Many more quotations of
this kind might be given, reading indeed very
much like Mr.. Blaines original instructions to Mr..
Trescot But Mr.. Frenghuysen carefully instructs
Mr. Trescot that if Chill will not take the advice of
this Government, she must be allowed to have her
own way, as we can't interfere. Mr. Frellnghuysen
goes apparently far Mr.. Blaine in pointing out
the outrage of the demands made by Chilli but then he
adds as in his instruction of January 8, that we can
do nothing to aid Peru in her distress There is the
point where Mr.. Blaine and Mr. Frelnghuysen diff
fered In his very last letter Mr. Frelinghuysen re-
minds Mr.. Trescot that when, as colonies, the
Spanish Republics threw off their political cOnnec
tons with Europe, we encouraged them by our SYM
pathiesn "By the moral weight OF our Official
declarationsn continues Mr.. Frelinghuysen, " we
prevented intervention either to restore old political
connections with Europe or to create new ones"
That is practically the same declaration repeatedly
made by Mr. Blaine, and he asked if our moral
weight" when own Republic was weak, could
avail against European Powers in favor of all the
sI pan lics nf Ampr1co why cOUlQ not that
"moral weight" In the day of our great power,
avail 10 protect one American Republic from being
DESTROYED by anotheri That is the position which
Mr. Blaine has tenaciously, and even stubbornly,
maintained as indicating alike the duty and the in
terest of the Government of the United States
But Mr. Frelinghuysen finds it very hard, after
giving every point away on January o. to recover
anything on February "a. On the former date he
published mis- famous note revoklng Mr.. Blaines In
structlons and telling Mr. TrescOt TO make no au-
thoritative utterance touching boundary indemnity
or anything else in the controversy between Chill
and Peru And he forthwith published this revoca-
ton and retreat to the whole world, and so Chill at
once understood that, do as she might and demand
what she choose this Government would stand by
with folded arms and sealed lips while Peru was
being destroyed. Mr. Trescot, upon receiving
his new Instructions found that Chill
was Just as well advised of them as he was and so
all that left him was to telegraph Mr. frelng,
Luvsen that the do-nothing policy was very dead
failure. Mr. Trescots exact words were these:
have carried ouV your instructions scrupulously.
The terms of peace will not be modified by Chilli.
The publication of the instructions TO me and of my
confidential telegram, has made it impossible to
secure a modification"
Mr.. Trescot, by his last dispatch of March 10,
"has gone TO Peru" and Mr. Walker Blaine to
Bolivia but what either can do under Mr.. Frellng-
huysen's instructions is beyond imagination. Mr..
resco goes under the express obligation of the do
nothing policy, and, on leaving Valparaiso, tele;
feel no fear that shall depart from your instruo
fions." Mr.. TrescoVs last and anxious thought was
evidently to quiet the apprehensions of the State
Department lest something vigorous phllan-
thIopic should by any possibility be attempted.