Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-24
cnILI-pERUvIAM IMvEsTIeATIoM.
Ex-Assistant Secretary Hit Question ~
to his knowledge Of Affairs.
Blaine Again 10 Appear Before the Com.
mittee.
WAsHrxGrox. Nav 90.


state, appeared before the House committee
on foreign affairs. this morning, and was ex-
amined touching matters of the Chili-Peru-
Wan investigation.
The witness had no personal knowledge of
any connection of any minister pleDipoten-
tizry of the United States with the affairs of
the Peruvian Company, and knew nothing
except what he had seen in the papers Of the
contract between Morton, Bliss & Co., and
the Credit IndustreI
The witness on several occasions saw Count
De Montferrande at the State Department He
came a representative of the Credit Indus
triel, and he arranged an interview between
the count and the Secretary of State.
1t was held April %. and the witness was
present TO facilitate the interview. the
count did not speak English. No one else
was present.
He spoke of the standing and purposes of
the company of which the witness knew
something from his personal acquaintance in
Paris. The count unfolded the plans of his
company, which were to arrange the financial
part Of the Peruvian troubles by furnishing
| the money to pay her indemnity. The plans
embraced protectorate by the United
States.
Elaine replied that a protectorate of that
kind was contrary to the spirit of our insti-
tutions, and he could not consent to any par
ticpation in it on the part of the State De-
partment; that he sympathized in the desire
OF the company to stop bloodshed and save
| the dismemberment of Peru, but that the
government could not offer to mediate, and
| its tender would undoubtedly be rejected if
made.
| Blaine asked the count why he did not see
| MIR. Outrey; that the Credit Industriel was a
foreign corporation. The count replied that
he did not ask fer mediation in the interest
Of any company, but in the name of human
ity.
Blaine replied that he could do nothing,
promising nothing.
This terminated the interview, and the
count returned with witness to his room
| He expressed much disappointment at the
poor results Of his interview. In reply to
| further questions by Chairman Williams,
| witness stated that Suarez's name appeared
among the credentials of the Count de Mont
Fernando, and some time after the count left
Suarez appeared at the department and wit
ness did not know whether he ever had an
interview with the Secretary or not. He
was afterward at the department pressing
witness to secure for him an interview with
Blaine, or letter if nothing more
Witness was not aware that any cores
pondence ever passed between them. Wit
ness was not present at any interview be-
| tween Robert Randall and the Secretary
He knew Of RandalFs presence on two or
three occasions at the State Department, but
never met him or spoke to him. In his con-
versation with witness Suarez urged that an
instruction be sent to Minister Hurlbut
Witness had heard him speak of the Peru
Wan Company, but not with much respect.
He was very pressing in his efforts to obtain
an interview with the Secretary. Witness
| did n kupw tho of tha g
ElmOre to Paris. Never heard any sugges-
ton of the union of the interests of the
French and American companies. Had
heard Blaine several times speak of the Pc
ruvian Company, but always rather slight
lngly as something not possessing any tangi-
| BILE standing. Witness did not know of his
own knowledge anything of the relation be-
tween Robert Randall and Mr. Elmore, or
that they went to Europe together.
Witness first heard of the missing papers
after he left the department. He never saw
them; certainly drought he would have re-
membered them if he had ever seen them,
as it was hardly probable that they would
come direct to the department without his
seeing them.
The witness drew up the reply of the State
Department to President Crews proposal of
mediation, at the suggestion of Blaine The
dispatch contemplated simply the general
policy of this government. The affairs of the
Credit industrial or any other company were
not thought of in that connection.
| The witness was asked in relation to the
status of Prescott in the State Department in
connection with the preparation of dispatches
touching the Chili-Peravan matters, and re-
piled that Prescott had just returned from
China, where he had been one of the COM
missioners, and pending the settlement of
that matter, he was consulted in regard TO
the Chili-Peru matter, and made a thorough
investigation and prepared statement of
facts upon which the Secretary could act.
He was specially charged with this matter
in connection with the dispatches, and with
the exception of the Secretary, was the most
competent person to explain the meaning of
every word in these dispatches He was very
highly esteemed in the department, and on
account of his high standing and experience
as a diplomat. was selected as commissioner
to visit the South American States
The chairman announced that Blaine would
come before them tomorrow forenoon. at ten
o'clock, and the coLmittee adjourned to that
time.