Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-15
A MISSION OFMERCY.
Mr.. TreseOtt Appears Before the House
Committee on Foreign Affai
and Explains the
Object OF His Visit 10 South America
He Knows Nothing Of Shipherd
or the Missing Papers.

WASHINGTON, June NV. II. Trescott
late commissioner of the United States 10
the South American republics of Chilli. Peru
and Bolivia, was examined by the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs to-day. He
said, in general terms, that the object of his
mission was to attempt to bring the belliger-
ent States OF Chill, Peru and Bolivia to-
gether, and, if possible, to make peace. Wit
ness knew nothing whatever of the CORE
spondence of Shipherd; never saw him but
once, and none of his papers ever came into
his hands. Just before witness left this city
for South America Mr.. Blaine showed him
one of Shepherds letters and his (Biaine's)
reply. 1t was the letter in which he told
Shipherd never TO speak to him again. With
this exception witness knew nothing of
Shlpherd or the missing papers. He had
no knowledge that any minister of the
United States was corruptly influenced in
connection with the Credit Industrial or any
other company; never saw or heard any
thing to indicate that the late Minister
Hurbut was in any way corruptly influenced.
The Gillian secretary of foreign affairs told
witness that the Gillian government had no
charges whatever to make against Hurlbut.
Mr.. Williams stated TO the committee that
be had been notified that the secretary of
state would to-day send Congress large
~ ass OF original correspondence bearing upon
Trescott's mission, and unless some member
of the committee desired to ask further ques-
lions he thought it best to adjourn a few
days to give an opportunity to examine this
correspondence.
Mr.. Belmont desired to put few questions
and inquired, do / understand you to say
that the plan of the Credit Industrial was the
only one that could have been practical?"
Answer-It was the only one | heard of that
seemed to have sufficient financial status to
warrant the expectation that it might furnish
means to pay war indemnify.
Mr.. Prescott was asked if he had had COM
munication with any one since his return
from South America, in regard to the Credit
Industrial; and replied that he had written
to Robert Randall, in response to a letter
from that gentleman in which he called wit
ness attention to certain portions of Mr..
Blaine's testimony, and asked for a state
ment Of his recollection upon the matters
involved. Prescott added al do not wish to
be drawn into any controversy as to the &C.
curacy of memory of either Mr.. Blaine or
Mr.. Randall. ] know nothing of what passed
between Messrs. Blaine and Randall. knew
Mr.. Randall as an agent or representative of
the Credit Industrial. As | understood it,
Mr.. Randall was under the impression that
certain relations had been established be-
tween the Credit Industrial and the state
department, and he thought Mr.. Blaine had
taken up the Landreau claim and had forced
it upon Chill and Peru TO the detriment of
his company. As point of fact, however,
the question had never reached the point of
practical consideration, and 1 so told Mr..
Randall"
Witness did not remember whether he
drafted the instructions of the state depart
ment of June 18th; he was perfectly willing
to answer any and all questions not conflict
ing with his obligations to the President and
secretary of state; but all dispatches signed
by the secretary of state were his (secretary
Of state) dispatches, and he (witness)
doubted the propriety of being questioned in
regard TO their authority.
Mr.. Belmont stated that he deemed it per-
tinent to the inquiry to show that the Credit
Industrial was the company which was
meant in the instructions of the state depart
ment to Hurlbut, June 18th, although it was
not mentioned by name. The witness yes
Ierday made light of it, and made the point
that the Credit Industrial was not mentioned
at all. He desired the witness to state
whether he had any other company in his
mind.
Mr.. Prescott answered that his opinion on
the subject was formed after he reached
Perm; that from what he heard there he was
satisfied that the Credit Industrial was the
only agency that might accomplish the pay
ment of the war indemnity, and was the only
agency ever heard of while there.
MIR. Belmont asked several other questions
IN regard to Witness acquaintance with
Gilmore, Suarz and others, and in explana-
ion stated that his object was TO show what
Kind of government that of Calderon was,
when Elmore, the representative of it, was
also the representative OF the Credit Indus
raj; and also that it was so well under
tood that the Credit Industrial was the only
offering a practicable plan that it
vas not thought necessary to mention it by
lame in the dispatches. Inquiry was not |
pursued further. Mr.. Trescott was excused, !
With the understanding that he be recalled |
n a few days.