Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-23
THE PERU.CHILI INVESTIGATION.
Mr. Hit Before the House Committee.

his ACCOUNT OF THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN sECRR-
TARY BLAINE AND COUNT DIX MoNrFERRANp.
M. Robert X. HIT, ex-Assistant Secretary OF
State. appeared before the House committee on
ioreign Affairs this morning and was examined
touching matters connected with the Chili-Peru-
Wan Investigation witness had no personal
knowledge OF any connection OF any minister
plenipotentiary OF the United States with the
Affairs OF the Peruvian company, and knew moth
ing except what he had seen In the prluts OF q
contract between Norton, Bliss Co. and the
Credit IndustrieL Witness on several occasions
ment. He came as the representative OF the
Credit Industriel, and he arranged an interview
between the count and the Secretary OF State IL
The count unfolded the plans OF hts company,
wnlch were to arrange the financial part or the
psr Sea UTSes oy furnishing the money to
tectorate by the United States
Mr. BLAINE REPLIED
that protectorate OF that kind was contrary to
the spirit OF our institutions and he could not con-
sent to any participation in 1t the part OF the
state department; that he sympathized in the de-
sire OF the company to stop bloodshed and save
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF Peru, but that this govern
ment could not offer to mediate, and its tender
Blaine asked the count why he did not see MI.
Outrey; that the Credit Industriel was a foreign
corporation The count replied that he did not
ask Tor mediation In the interest OF any company
or nation, but in the name or humanity. MT.
Blaine replied that he could do nothing, promise
nothing. This terminated the interview and the
count returned with witness to his room He ex-
pressed much disappointment at the poor results
In reply to further questions by Chairman
Williams, witness stated that Mr. Suarez's name
appeared among the credentials OF the Count
De Montferrand, and some time after the Count
left, Suarez appeared at the department, but wit
ness did not know whether he ever had an inter
view with the Secretary. He was often at the
department pressing witness to secure for him an
interview with Mr.. Blaine, or letter, If nothing
pondence ever passed between them
THE RANDALL INTERVIEWS
Witness was not present at any interview
between Mr.. Robert Randall and the Secretary.
He knew OF Mr.. Randall's presence on two
or three occasions at the State depart
ment, but never met him or spoke to him.
Witness had heard Mr.. Blaine several times
speak OF the Peruvian company, but always rather
slightingly, as something not possessing any tan
gible standing. Witness did not know Of his own
Robert Randall and Mr. Elmere, or that they went
to Europe together. Witness first heard OF
THE MISSING PAPERS
after he left the department. He never saw them;
certainly thought he would have remembered
them II he had ever seen them and IL was hardly
probable that they would come direct to the de-
partment without his seeing them Witness drew
the reply OF the State department. to President
0Icvy Vi ucQlatlOn, at the SuRgeSCl0n OF
Mr.. Blaine. The dispatch contemplated simply
the general policy OF this government The affairs
OF the Credit Industriel or any other company,
were not thought OF In that connection. witness
was asked in relation to
THE STATUS OF Mr. TREsCoTT
In the State department at the time he was appar-
emily employed by the department in connection
with the preparation Of dispatches touching the
Chili-Peruvian Matters and replied that Mr.. Tres
cott had just returned from China. where he had
been one OF the commissioners, and pending the
settlement OF that matter he was consulted In re-
gard to the Ch1l-Peruvian matter, and made a
thorough investigation and prepared q statement
OF facts upon which the Secretary could act He
was specially charged with this matter in connec-
tfon with the preparation OF the dispatches, and,
with the exception OF the Secretary, was the most
competent person to explain the meaning OF every
word In those dispatches. He was very highly eS-
teemed In the department., and on account OF his
high standing and experience as diplomat was
selected as the commissioner to visit the South
American states.
The chairman announced that Mr. Blaine would
again come before them Tomorrow morning at !
10 O'Clock, and the committee adjourned to that
time