New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-30
RIAINE AND HIS CRITICS.

Tn conversation with reporter eA-o0'io'di'
D,a;ne has replied TO recent criticisms upon MS
r,onacement of American relations with Oiilh
d PORN Mr. Blaine SAYS there is no foundation
:, truth for the statement that the instructions
90 Nr Prescott. signed by him, were drafted
on1 committed to Mr.. TrcscOtt without the
l,oowledgc of President Arthur. The instruc-
,;ops were twice read to the President for crlt-
;o;sn and change The change OF pol
;cv recently made, Mr.. Blaine accounts
90 none of his business, and makes
po attempt to explain it. Mr. Blame
also saws that he instructed Mr.. Hurlbut no.
20 use the influence of his position III ald Oh
the Credit Industriel or the Cochet clalm Du'
70 ask for the Landreau claim a near
ing before the proper tribunal. MI.
Blaine freely expresses his views OF
,he Chilian conquest OF Peru, and its effects
upon American influence and American COM
mcrcial interests on the South Pacific coast
THE EFFECTS OF THE SPOLIATlON OF lEhu
WASHINGTON Jan. 29.-The UashiRgton Fosf VIII
nublisb tomorrow morning an interview with eX-
Secretary Blaine Oh the subject OF the recently
nrnte1 diporratic correspondence relating to Chlh
and Peru A reporter called Mr. Blaines attention
10 the statement in the New-IOrk papers that the
instructions 10 Mr. TreScOtt, signed by him. had
been drafted and committed to Mr. Trescott without
the knowledge ofthe President
After carefully reading the papers handed hni'
Mr. Blaine sad THAT statement is entirely er-
roneous 1t has absolutely no foundation In truth'
The instructions were not only talked over luly "'
length with the President, but When
written were twice read to him for
criticism and change. have the
original draft iii my possession, with the modiIica-
tions desired bv the President clearly noted ii is
inconceivable that an extraordinary mission. I'M
poItant ough to be mentioned i'll the annual mes
sage to Congress, could be allowed TO leave the
country without the Presidents knowing the IN
.trpctions lv which its action should be governed.
No friend of the President could possibly make that
SUGGESTION and on his behalf | TePel 1t. Ihe frcsl-
dent specifically referred in his message TO the III
structions given to Mr.. Prescott and, besides Wbat
possible interest could l have myself IN sending
an instruction without the full knowledge
of the Presidents l was to leave
the Department IN fortnight, and
Jwonld naturally take care not to send instruc-
ton merely to have it revoked. In addition to all
other considerations. / had no desire to send MI.
Trescott on a fools errand.'
"How do You account for the change of policy =
the reporter asked.
"1hat is none of my business" replied Mr.. Blaine.
"I is the undoubtcd right of the President. well
rs of private citizen. to change his mind Either
President Garfield President Arthur saw every
dispatch of importance that sent and no step
was taken without the full concurrence and ap-
proval Of the Executive. During the late Pres
ident's illness no dispatch Of any special
moment was sent either to Peru
Chill. The dates will show that l
have seen no reason 20 change my mind as to the
wisdom of the course marked out. Time, reflection
and the development of events have ali the more
strongly co frmed me. and fear that one result OF
the change will be the utter destruction of the com
mcrcia interests of the United States on the South
Pacific Coast"
Il see' said the reporter, that some papers ac-
cuse you of an intention desire to annex Peru to
the United States"
At this suggestion Mr. Blaine showed some impa-
tience Why" said me- you isht well talk of
annexing Terra del Fucgo TIC Island Of Juan Fer
nandez TO this country. Nj Chr>,iaucy mentioned
some such thing as being desired in Peru, but
never thought il of sufficient consequence or import
ancc to call for any comment. 1t was merely des-
pairing cry on the part Of thc down1roiden Peru
vians Ny dispatches the Isthmus Canal qurs
tion, published by order Of the President dis
claimed for the United States any desire for terri
torial acquisition III Mexico Central America. 1t
never occurred to inc that annexation IF South
Upon being asked whether any attempt made
by the United states Government to push the claims
of private citizens against Peru Mr. Blaine said:
ION the contrary, that carefully and Tigidly
avoided. The Peruvian Company was very anxious
10 sccure the active aid Of the State Department.
and took special pains to guard the United States
against any comnittal Tie agents Of the Credit In
dustriel, of France, also asked that the United
States would in some way help them III their efforts
10 aid Peru. ! tclcgrapEed Mr.. Hurlbut in these
words: The influence of your position must not
be used IN aid Of the Credit Industrel any other
specuatng or financial association. Mr. liurlbuts
reply showed that the caution was unnecessary
The COchet claim | examined carefully and rs a
result of my investigation instructed Mr. Hmlbat
not to extend the good offices of this Government Oh
behslf of il. This claim was thrust upon
General Hurbut's attention by Jacob K.
Ghipherd, agent Of the Peruvian company,
and was compelled TO deal summarily with it and
with him. instructed Mr.. Huribut to pay no at
tention to anything Mr. Shipherd might write In
gard TO claims against the Government of Peru, and
70 return 70 the writer's any letters relating to pri
vate claims which had not been regularly referred
TO him lSlr. Hurlbut by the Department of State
and then laid down general principle TO be OBJ
served by diplomatic representatives evsrywhtre in
these word Legations of the United States in
foreign countries must not be converted into agen-
Gle, for the prosecution CT private claims"
But You did instruct General IIurhut TO pros
ecate the Landreau claim, did you nOtH'
No, l did not. ! instructed General Iiurlbut
10 use his good Offices with the Peruvian Govern
mcnt 20 the end that II would designate of its
own courts or tribunals before which Landreau
could appear and have the justice of his claim
tested. ] expressly stated that this Government
would not undertake to constrne the contract de-
eide upon the compensation due to Landreau.' And