The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-03-18
MINISTER MoRroN's REPLY
To Inquiries Regarding ChiII.PsruvIn
Complications.

Complications.
wAsuSoToS, D. c., March H.
Minister Morton, in reply to an an.
nouncement that the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs had the shipherd matter
under investigation, has communicated
with the Secretary OF State what he has to
say on the subject, and the latter to-day
transmitted the following communication
to the committee:
"DErARrMEXr 70 STATE, WASHINGTON, |
March II. (
Hon. G. G. Williams, Chairman Coprmitte.
on Foreign AGdiS
sIe-Adverting TO the letter addressed
me on the 4th inst by the clerk OF your
committee, expressing your wish that the
United States Minister TO France should be
informed Of the resolution OF the House OF
Representatives OF the 2+th utto., respect
ing certain allegations OF improper trans.
actions, at the same time 10 invite Mr.,
Morton to make such response as he might
sec lit, have the honor to inform you that
telegram Of the desired. sense was sent TO
Mr.. Morton on the 9th inst. have Just
received from him reply by cable to the
following effect:
The Minister stated that he has never at
any time been associated with anv busi-
ness transactions needing or expecting in
tervention by the United States. In the
ordinary course OF their business, Morton,
Bliss & Co., had entered into q contract
simply for receipt OF nitrates and guano
sent to this country aud the States thereof.
and that the transactions were OF the same
class of business as have been carried on
by the firm for many years. All the pre-.
Iiminaries Of the agreement itself were
made by Geo. Bliss during Morton's ab-
sence and before his departure for his
present post.
Bliss will be happy il desired by the
committee TO furnish att the details OF the
transactions as far as Suarez or Randall.
who are said to have been agents OF the
Credit Industrial, are concerned. Morton
has had no communication with either OF
them and does not know them personally.
Neither does he know any thing OF any
dealings they or either OF them may have
had with the governments of the United
States, Peru, Chill or the Credit Industrial
before the conclusion OF the agreement be.
tween Randall and Bliss.
Mr.. Morton has no intimation Of anv
personal Or official action being expected
Of him connected with the affairs Of Chill
or Peru, or the relations OF either country
with the government OF the United States
or Of France. Mr.. Morton has never had
any conversation with any officer OF the
United States touching business or politi.
cal matters in Peru or Chit, or the reIa.
tons OF either to the United States or the
French Republic. He has had no official
or unofficial communication. either
indirectly or directly with any person what
ever having any official connection with or
serving either the United States or French
Governments in regard to the relation oi
Chill and Peru toward each other or toward
the United States or French Governments,
with the exception Of q conversation with
President Grevy, which was sought by the
latter, and which interview was officially
reported 10 the department at the time and
called for the reply from Mr.. Blaine which
was communicated 10 President Greyy,
and the reply OF the French President
thereto was also reported by Mr.. Morton ii
official form.
Mr.. Morton concludes by saying that II
has never entered into his mind that It
would ho possible to use or attempt to use
bis official position as minister to further
the objects OF the late eaatraotR, and that
he has never contemplated any con.
neotfon with regard to affairs in Chilli
and :. Peru, except 10 carry out
in good faith such orders as this
govSrnmeatmay give him in the premises.
! have necessarily communicated only the
import Of Mr., Morton's telegram for tho
reason Of the original being in cipher.
The publication Of the literal text would
afford q slew to the secret channels ol the
telegraphic correspondence. shall, how.
ever, be happy to let you or any OF the
committee seethe original dispatch II you
desire to do 80,