Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-07
Testimony bv Blair.

WASHINGTON, May 6.-1he examination of
Senator Blair was resumed. The witness
thought there could be no doubt but that
English influences predominated commercially
in South America, and that Chill holds COM
mercial relations almost exclusively with Euro
pean nations, particularly with England, from
whom she has received substantial aid. That
is true of Chill in respect to her trade.
Representative Blount inquired what the wit
ness would suggest IN the matter of the
Monroe doctrine as applicable to this Peru.
CHILEAN affair.
Witness was only too happy to accord in
formation, and would be still happier if his
advice in the matter could be followed. After
a certain policy had been advocated in this
country for a long series of years in regard to
South American countries, it seems to me q
proper thing to have been done when the
opportunity was offered to us, without violat-
ing any obligation to any European country,
to have preserved peace between Peru and
Chilli, and made Peru a strong commercial
ally of the United States.
would have embraced the opportunity. In
that way we would have secured the contract
of the canal which now seems in fair way to
pass to the control of European nations. Wit
ness stated that Shipherd placed the amount
of the claim at $135, 900, 600 and that of Co.
Chef at 81 ,000, 100000. 1t was always clear to
him (witness) that they would not get great
amount of it.
Shipherd indicated readiness to take in
settlement from Peru whatever might seem
fair.
Representative Belmont-Was there not an
idea Of an American protectorate?
Not at that time; not until November lust
about the time l severed my connection with
the Peruvian cOmnanv
Belmont said as Blount had gone over a
good deal of ground that he had intended to
cover, his examination would be very brief.
Wilson desired before adjournment to call
the attention OF Senator Blair to the CORE
spondence betweed himself (Blair) and Ship
herd: The latter had declined to produce it.
He (Wilson) thought the committee would
like to have it, and he called the senator's at
tention that he might produce it Monday if it
appeared to him proper to do so.
Blair replied he had no correspondence with
Shlpherd save such as was strictly private
and confidential and growing out of their re-
lation as attorney and client, and he must de-
cline to produce it.
Wilson stated that the object of the COM
mlttee was simply to learn if it threw any
light on the subject under Investigation;
whether any effort was made to influence the
Intervention of the government or to prevent
peace between Chilli and Peru, except through
the acknowledgment of these claims.
Witness replied that he knew nothing of
the loss OF certain state department papers,
nor of any government official interested in
affecting the policy of this government in the
interest of these claims, or of any effort or
expectation of securing armed interven-
ton by this government, or of any ex-
pectation or effort to prevent peace
between Chill and Peru, unless
these claims were allowed. He recognized
the TACT that there were obligations higher
and more binding than those subsisting be-
tween mere individuals, and were he in pos
session OF any knowledge or any correspond
ence of the character mentioned, or sought