Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-08
Testimony by Blair.

WASHINGTON, May 6.-1he examination Of
Senator Blair was resumed. The witness
thought there could be no doubt but that
English influences predomipated commercially
In South America, aud that Chilli holds com.
mercial relations almostexclusively with Euro
pean nations, particularly with England, from
whom she has received substantial aid. That
is true OF Chill In respect to her trade
Representative Blount inquired what the wit
ness would suggest In The matter of the
Monroe doctrine as applicable to this Peru.
Chilian affair.
Witness was only too happy to accord in
formation, and would be still happier If his
advice In the matter could be followed. After
a certain policy had been advocated in this
country for long series of years in regard to
South American countries, it seems to me
proper thing to have been done when the
opportunity was offered to us, without violat-
Ing any obligation to any European country,
to have preserved peace between Peru and
Chilli, and made Peru a strong commercial
ally of the United States.
l would have embraced the opportunity In
that way We would have secured the contract
OF the canal which now seems in fair way to
pass to the control of European nations. Wit.
ness stated that shipherd placed the amount
of the claim at $l35, 100000 and that of Co.
Chef at 81 ,000, 000, 900. It was always clear to
him (witness) that they would not get great
amount of it.
Shipherd indicated readiness to take in
settlement from Peru whatever might seem
fair.
Representative Belmont-was there not an
idea Of an American protectorate?
Not at that time; not until November, Just
about the time ! severed my connection with
the Peruvian cOmDanV.
Belmont said as Blount had gone over a
good deal of ground that he had Intended to
cover, his examination would be very brief.
Wilson desired before adjournment to call
the attention OF Senator Blair to the CORE
spondence betweed himself (Blair) and Ship
herd; The latter had declined to produce #:
He (Wilson) thought the committee would
like to have it, and he called the senator's at
tention that he might produce it Monday If it
appeared to him proper to do so.
Blair replied he had no correspondence with
Shipherd save such as was strictly private
aad confidential and growing out of their re-
lation as attorney and client, and he must de-
cline to produce it.
Wilson stated that the object of the CON-
mittee was simply to learn If it threw any
light on the subject under Investigation;
whether any effort was made to influence the
Intervention of the government or to prevent
peace between Chilli and Peru, except through
the acknowledgment of these claims.
Witness replied, that he knew nothing of
the loss OF certain state department papers,
nor OF any government official interested in
affecting the policy of this government In the
interest of these claims, or of any effort or
expectation of securing armed ipterven-
ton by this government, or of any ex-
pectation or effort to prevent peace
between Chilli and Peru, unless
| these claims were allowed. He recognized
the fact that there we're obligations higher
and more binding than those subsisting be-.
tween mere individuals, and were he in pos
! session of any knowledge or any correspond
ence of the character mentioned, or sought
under the resolution calling for the investiga-
tion, he should consider it his duty to refuse
to withhold anything under the shield Of
professional considerations.
Adjourned until Monday