The Portland daily press., 1882-05-24
THE PERUVIAN COMPANY.
Ex-Assistant Secretary of State
Hit Before the Committee.
MR.. BLAINE TO APPEAR AGAIN
TO DAY.

WASHINGTON, May 23.-Robert r. Hit, ex'
Assistant Secretary of State, appeared before
| the House committee on foreign affairs this
| morning, and was examined touching matters
concerning tho Chili-Peruvian investigation.
The witness had no knowledge OF any connec-
| ton of any minister plenipotentiary OF the
| United States with the affairs of the Peruvian
| Company and knew nothing except what he
mad seen in the points OF a contract between
Norton, Bliss & Co. and the Credit Industrlei.
| The Witness on several occasions, saw Count
| DE Montferrand at the State Department he
| came as a representative of the Credit Indus
triel, and he arranged an interview between
the Count and Secretary OF State. 1t was held
April I'd, and the witness was present to faclll-
tate the interview, as the Count did not speak
English. No one else was present. He spoke
Oh the standing and purposes OF the 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.
Mr.. Blaine replied that a protectorate OF
that kind was contrary to the spirit OF our in
stitutions, and he could not consent to any par
tcipation in it on the part of the State Depart
ment; that he sympathized in the desire of the
company to stop bloodshed and save the dis
memberment of Peru, but that this govern
Iient could not offer to mediate, and its tender
w0ald undoubtedly be rejected ii made. Mr.
ExaiEe asked the Count why he did not see
NJ. Ouirey, and said that the Credit Industri-
piled that lie did not ask for mediation in the
interest of any company or nation, but in the
name Of humanity. Mr.. Blaine replied that
he could do nothing nor promise nothing. This
terminated the interview, and the Count re-
turned with the witness to his ROOM He ex-
pressed much disappointment at the poor re-
suits of his interview.
In reply to further questions by Chairman
Williams, the witness stated that Suarez's
name appeared among the credentials OF Count
~ A4D.%f ksx..n naff tn1n
left Suarez appeared at the department., and
the witness did not know whether he ever had
an interview with the Secretary or not. He
was often at the department. pressing the wit
ness to secure for him an interview with MIR.
Blaine, or a letter, if nothing more. The wit
ness was not aware that any correspondence
ever passed between them.
The witness was not present at any interview
between Robert Randall and the Secretary. He
knew of Randall's presence on two or three oc-
casions at the State Department, but never
met him or spoke to him. In his converse
tions with the witness, Suarez urged that an
instruction be sent to Minister Hurlbut. The
witness had heard him speak of the Peruvian
Company, but not with respect. He was very
pressing in his efforts to obtain an interview
with the Secretary. The witness did not
know the purpose of the mission of Emore to
Paris. He never heard any suggestion of the
union OF the interests of the French and
American companies. He had heard Blaine
several times speak of the Peruvian Company,
but always rather slghtingly, as Sc mething
not possessing any tangible standing. The
witness did not know, of his own knowledge,
anything of the relations between Randall and
Mr.. Elmore, or that they went to Europe to-
gether.
The witness first heard of the missing papers
after he left the department he never saw
them. he certainly thought he would have
remembered them if he had ever seen them,
and it is hardly probable that they would
come direct to the department without his see
ing them.
The witness drew up the reply of the State
Department to President Grevy's proposal of
mediation, at the suggestion 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.
The witness was asked in relation to the sta
tus of Mr.. Trescott in the State Department
at the time he was apparently employed by
the department. ia connection with the prepa-
ration of dispatches touching Chili-Peruvian
matters. and replied that Trescott had just re-
turned from China, where he had been one of
the commissioners, and pending the settlement
of that matter he was consulted IN regard to
the Chili-Peru matter. He made thorough
investigation and prepared statement of
facts, upon which the Secretary could act He
was specially charged with this matter, in
connection with the preparation of the dis
patches and, with the exception OF the Secre-
tary, was the most competent person to ex-
plain the meaning of every word in these dis
patches He was very highly esteemed in the
department, and on account OF his high stand
ing and experience as diplomat was elected
as commissioner to visit the South American
States.
The chairman announced that Mr.. Blaine
wonld come before them tomorrow, at 10
o'clock, and the committee adjourned to that
time.