New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-02
THE PERUVIAN SCANDAL.


AFFArRs-No BLAME ATTACHING IN ANY WAY TO
rur sr.rr DEPARTMENT, OR TO THE LATE MIN
listers TO PERU AND CHILL.
WAsurNGToN, Aug. AT meeting OF the
Uouse Committee on Foreign Affairs to-day report re-
snectin the results OF the recent Chill Peru investigation
was unanimously adopted. After reciting the
various House resolutions which led TO the
investigation the report says that the commit
tee are of opinion that the missing papers
from the files Of the State Department were not
OF such character importance as to furnish motive
for purloining them from the files or Tor de-
stroving them, but that their loss sug-
rests the propriety of greater caution
in the future the part Of those having such papers In
charge The principal inquiry stated is:
whether one or more Ministers Plenpotentiary Of the
United states were personally Interested III OF nn-
properly connected win the business vas re-
quested expected In the affairs OF Gnu ana Per me
discussion of this branch OF the inquiry may De diVdeu
FirsIThe condition of affairs in Chill and Peru which
gave rise 10 the correspondence and business u'nsdc
tions referred to IN the resolutions.
Seeond-The history and claims Of the parties who re-
quested the Intervention Of the United States III the
INSTRUMENTATION as TO the connection between
Ministers Plenpoentary the United states and these
parties any business transaction In when tney re
quested expected the intervention OF the Onlleu
After rehearsng the condition of the South American
States and the dere which led 10 the war between
Chill aud Peru, the report continues
As the advanced, adversely to Peru, holders OF
spectators seeking take advantage of her Distress
were naturally interested In h e 1 HhiIi che
must either lose her autonomy, submit to a
cession OF territory provide for the payment OF
believed that the United States would have more nilu-
any of the Powers in deciding which OF these
To her. therefore the interested parties turned their
attention and sought by various methods her n'ef'on
FirS-The Cocnet claimants
Second-The Landreau claimants.
Ihird-The Credit IndustrieL
After briefly recIting grounds upon which each of
these claims were based the report says:
These three interests exceedingly anxious that
the United states should interfere IN behalf oi Peru IN
order To preseyc her autonomy ana eha1le hor 10 as
charc her pecunary obligations. Their objects related
wholly to business or speculation Neither patriotism
international policy nad anything to do with them
They looked upon the nitrate beds and Gnano deposits OF
Peru place wmeuce were to come fortunes rFllhg
o ~ AID toe inervenon by the United states
th magic lamp by which these creations were 10 DC
evoked.
Under the third head after reeitng at great length
the testimony taken the committee conclude that there
was no truth in the allegations made b. Mr. shlpherd
that Minister Hurbut under corrupt influence in his
action regarding any these interests. Alter quoting
Mr. Shepherds rendering 100000 worth OF stock
IN the Peruvian Company the committee say;
We cannot accept any explanation Of Mr.. Shipherd
that this letter any thing else Than an attempt 10 IN
nuence the Official acd Mr. Huriou by the offer OF
a personal IN the company whose interests he wa
was TENTATIVELY in the same direction SO
The two letters character Of tne mctol ny
which Mr. Sal pherd sought to accomplish ms pnrpoies;
Lastly OF morais in 80 many distinguished GEM men
was disprlcd ~ Secretary Blanes testimony that he
never heard Of the letter unt Mr. Hurlbu sent to hun
ator Blair tnat he Of 1he letter until secretary
blaine tod him OF it December. 1881 and by the
statements Of nearly all the distinguished gentlemen
referred to, to substantially the same effect. Mr.
W. H. Ilurlbuts relieves his brother OF all sds
pcOn OF cOnccanng and retaining he ettcr LOT the pur
pose Of awaiting himself oi It's unworthy proposition.
Mr. Evartss instructions TO Mr. Christancy aud Mr..
Blaine's instructions Mr.. Hurlbert then quoted,
after which the report says the propositions referred to
in the latter "were evidently those submitted BY the
Creaft Industrel" 1t continues:
These were fully before Department, while yet
Mr. Snphcrd had been heard OF either by secretary
Blame or Mr.. TrCsco but there Is neither here, nor
anywhere else in the record, any evidence OF an ap-
prOval by this Administration vi me OBJECT Oh he credit
ndustei all its details any more than there had been
by its predecessor, If as mucn
Secretary Baine's Instructions TO Mr. Hurlbut as
guarded certainly those Of Secretary Evarts 10 Mr..
Our Gogernnent would be glad to hear from Peru
that mad been able g. devise one by which she could
meet the exigences of her position aud would extend
its good offices TO aid in carrying II out Nowhere
in the record is there any ndorsenen expressed or
implied of the scheme OF "a "proiectorate BY the
Possessed Of these instructions knowing no more OF
tie Cocet claim OF tne Landrcau claim than had
emanated from the brain of Mr. Snpherd, hr Huribut
went 10 Peru Az has already been shown. there is
evidence that he did anything regarding either OF the
CLAIMS beyond instructions which from time TO time he
received and nothing III the remotest degree casting
picOn upon nir absOlue integrity There can be no
question that he informed himself carefully lntelli
gently and honestly while in Peru OF the history OF
tnese claims, as was his duty, nor can there
be any question t1at he kept himself advised
as to tho Crcd ndustrel Of lis plans. and
goat0ns surely he would have done anlss in failing
Upon the sixth day of April last extraordinary and
malignant attack was N ide upon the memory Of MT
Hurl Ut Dy the Witness Suipherd supplcmcntlng that
made o.. previous October oy the same person IN his
interview with Sccrc. AIRY Blaine. If shipnerd
b.da fnr
ana suspicion engend,reO by MS own ma
OF men, they but the hearsay scandal witch
has unable even approx natey 10 subs snate
and which upon testm my of sr. Blaine, Mr.. Tres
cot, Mr.. Randall ana MIR. W. fl. HurlDnt aud all the
probabilities OF the case. The committee dismiss as un
worthy Of amy serious or further consideration secre
taIy Blaine wa. startled by the positive DECLARATIONS
OF Mr. Shpherd. apparently Endorsed OV many proinl
by a United otttes senator a. his counsel inJo sending
warning telegram " MI Hurlbdt somewhat peiemptOry
in tone.
Alter giving this dispatch and Mr. Hurburs long let
ter Of November .. in reply, the report says;
The committee detect in the correspondence nothing
dicul, comprehend or inconsistent with previous
actions or dccluoEs ana they luiy aDsOye Mr.. lurl
out from malicious and unfOunded cuar1es Il was
UPON he aid OF the Credit Industre declared tina his
Cove rument would prevent the uismembernent OF
Government decline negotiations for peace unless the
possibility of ccsslon OF territory was expressly waived
1uencc, 1t was contrary 10 me ms rdctiOhs
gwen him at the ume OF his departure
posi-, when continued unrey erscd to day
OF ms death. His solemn declarations are o. record th
he ud declare, and there l. evidence before
tne committee, other than hedsay, gong to snow that
he dd.
Minister Fitzpatrick. at Chilli and Minister Hurl- |
but AT Peru, each doubtless affected 10y partially
Tor the Nation which he accredited |
aud the dspa,cn OF each the home Oics were more
cOlOred b, this fact. But Dej Ond this, watch, II
fault proceeded from tner generous natures, 50 lar as
the scope nyes cation extends, stain
upon memory Of eIJner OF these brave and accom-
plshed men.
The report rectcs at some length the contract of the
Credit Industriel Company with Morton. Bliss Co..