Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-24
ACAUSTIC CRITICISM
or the South American Policy of the
Arthur Administration by Ex-
Secretary Blaine.
Peru Turned Over to the Tender Mer.
cies of English Spectators and
the Chilian Government.


colts instructions were revoked.
What do you mean by the general re-
sut?" inquired the reporter.
81 mean," said Blaine, "as | said in JAN
! uary, that Peru is to be despoiled and de-
| stroyed, and that the profits OF the spoliation
! are to be divided between Chill and the
English bondholders and speculators who
| furnished her the money, and the guns, and
| the ironclads that destroyed Peru. 1t is go
| advertised in a Chilian newspaper by the
| treasury department OF Chill. They have
| issued decree asking for bids for l ,000, 900
| guano beds of Peru now in possession of
Chill. Every cargo must be paid for, so the
| advertisement runs, in good sterling ex-
| change, English money, mark you, at ninety
| days sight One-half goes to Chilli and one
halt to the English bondholders, and Chill
| binds herself to deposit fifty per cent. of the
| proceeds OF the guano in the Bank OF Eng
land"
"Did Trescott agree to this?" asked the re-
porter.
"Trescott was forbidden" SAID Blaine, Ito
say one word about it, and not permitted to
| even interpese protest"
"How forbidden?"
"How" said Blaine, "why in explicit
! terms. See, here is what my successor in the
state department said in his letter to Tres
| colt, revoking his pit.o.s instructions.
| Reading from the recently printed volume
| OF Chili-Peruvian dispatches. The President
| wishes in no manner to dictate or make any
| authoritative utterances either to Peru or
| Chilli as to the merits OF the controversy ex-
| listing between those republics as to what in
| demnity should be asked or to be given, as to
| a change of boundaries or as to the personal
| government of Peru. The President recog-
| nizes Peru and Chill to be independent re-
| publics, to which he hae no right or inclIna-
| ton to dictate OF course" continued
| Blaine, when Trescott was thus made
| powerless, Chilli and English bondholders
| had it all their own way, with no one to
molest or make them afraid"
Then it would seem as if Trescott's visit
| had turned out in the interest OF English
| spectators" suggested the reporter.
Undeniably," said Blaine, because
| Trescott under Frelinghuysen's instructions
| has stood there as a constant witness. The
| United States would not in any event inter
| fere if the indemnity demanded took the
last dollar OF Peru's property and the last
acre of Peru's territory. Trescott was speci-
ally instructed not to say one word in pro-
test or opposition"
How did Trescott come to sign this re-
cent protocol" asked the reporter.
81 do not understand that he has signed
any protocol. The dispatches are a little
confused, but you will observe that the result
to Chill and Peru is exactly the same
whether our good offices in aid OF a pro-
tocol should be used or not. 1t is merely
question as to whether we would actively aid
or amply agree not to hinder"
"Does not the protocol change at all the
Peruvians' dem and on Chill"
81 think" said Blaine, ait enlarges those
demands somewhat beyond the indemnities
| asked before Trescott arrived. Naturally
enough when Chilli found that the United
States was sure not 10 interfere she took all
she wanted. She added, think, the district
Of Tacna to her previous demand, beside a
large strip of territory north OF Tarapaca.
As understand Chili's demands now" added
Blaine, "they include: First-the absolute an
nexation of Tarapaca and large strip of
territory Immediately north of it; these in
clude all nitrates and a great bulk of
guano. Second-Chili holds and occupies
the districts of africa and Tacna nominally
for ten years, to be then released on
| the payment of $40, 900 900, which they yleave
her with no more power to pay than if il
were 100000. africa and Tacna may
| therefore be considered permanently owned.
| Third-The Lobas Islands TO be seized and
held by Chill, SO long as there is any guano
on them. They have therefore taken the
very richest districts of Peru, including all
! her nitrates aud all her guanos just as they
| designed in the outset, only they were not
| then sure, as they are now, that the United
| States would permit it. When the conditions
| were submitted to Trescott he was graciously
| told that his good offices would be accepted
| to urge them upon Peru, but il Peru refused
| to accede to them, then his good offices must
| be considered at an end"
"Thst can hardly be considered courteous
| to the United States?" queried the reporter
"Why should Chill be courteous TO the
| United States?" replied Blaine. Nations
like individuals, depend for their position
| upon their power and will to assert. When
| Uriah Heep thanked God that he was an hum
| BILE master, Copperfeld took him at his word.
| When our minister was instructed to make
/ no authoritative utterance, but merely be
| seen and not heard, and to act the part of
| meekness and humility, Chill naturally con-
| cluded that she could use the power of this
great government as she chose, and thus
| sought to make Trescott aid her designs upon
| Peru"
| But L do not quite understand" said the
| reporter, chow Chilli came to advertise
| 100000 tons of Peruvian guano for sale be-
| fore the treaty was concluded, or any arrange
| ment for peace was made"
| "She did it on the old principle" said
| Blaine, Z" that he shall take who has the
power and he shall keep who can" 1t is
| absolute conquest. She feels so sure of her
possession that she need not wait for treaty
| to be concluded. She simply approprIates
| the property with a strong hand. When the
| United States refused to ask for justice be-
tween the two republics, and a strong En-
| glish power was interested in the aggrandize-
ment of Chilli, Peru's fate was sealed. 1t is
noticeable, moreover, that this 100000 tons
| Of guano is offered for sale in one block, and
any bidder is required to put up 100000, so
| that this decree OF sale is merely mode OF
getting this property into the hands of the
| agents of the Chilian and English bondheld-
ers. 1t will be carried in English ships,
| making a larger freightage than the cotton
| pf the limited States Annually taken hpVOnd
the sea-"
"Mr Blaine, do you think the United
States could in any event, have prevented
this result without war;"
with entire ease" replied Mr.. Blaine.
| "There was never such arrsnt nonsense
| talked of as the possibility Of war with
| Chill. The difference in the power OF the
| two countries renders the idea OF war rid-c
| ulous We are too big to make war on
Chill, and Chilli Is too small to make war on
US. The moral power 0. the United States
| iudiciously extrted could have saved the
| autonomy OF Peru"
Could it also have preserved all other
| territories ,"
81 am not entirely sure of that. A cession
of territory might be necessary in case Peru
could not pay the proper war indemnity, and
II so instructed Trescott, bat II il contem-
| plated that Peru had the alternative
| right to paw the indemnity, and if terri
tory had 10 be sacrificed 1t should not be in
excess Of a fair indemnity. Fifty million
dollars would have amply reimbursed Chill
for her war expenses. She has taken 81 500, :
900 worth OF property from Peru, merely
bv her strong arm, and the United States has
stood by. in the person of her srecial envoy,
| who is instructed either to say nothing or
to cay it all right"
"a great many believe said the reporter,
"that the active use of our inf sence would
have done no good
"In any event. said Blaine, ait would
have done no harm, and we should have the
consciousness at least of trying to save a
sister republic from destruction. 1t would
have been honorable 10 make the effort, even
if it had failed. As the result now stands,
We have acquired the hatred of the Peru
vians to the latest generation and at least
the contempt OF the ChiliaRs. We have also
secured the self-satisfed chuckle OF band oi
English speculators into whose hands the
power Of the United States has So effectively
played. Great Britain with all her powers
could not h-'e advanced the commercial
interests OF her own merchants In South
America So powerfully and DESTROYED the