New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-27

Q.-What / want to know is whether you made any
personal examination OF the landreau o," Mi no
OF no account for me 20 do T. $500
Far the state Department was concerned IL hlu
the additional adjudication OF an unanimous report ~
this committee and unanimous vote IN me hou'o -
$50 You stated just now And do not want the
gentlemen O e sieat OF that fact. -.
o. shnl come o thai In a moment Before writing
TO General Hur but your Of August t. 1881 dd you
submit the claim J. G. Landreau to the Department, OF
Justice or TO The Attorney General of the United 7tlts
for an opinion resyeciing tne Vny oi ee, very
Mr. Beinont~i only wanted your answer on that
Mr. Blaine-Oh, no. you want something more you
want Information VIII mot yf YOU gond be very u
hcardof aud very extraordinary thing Tor me 10 pro
Mr.. Beim5nt-I only wanted to know whether you did
or DOG -. Not, a., ,-o,,,d
hive unheartof and unprecedented aud e1'r'or
mr. 'B elmo Is a matter of opinion.
Mr.. Blaine-Oh, no. 1t Is a matter OF practice IN the
Department uo. 49,, ,,o rotc which ,vos addressed
bv Secretary Flsh TO Mr.. Thomas the American Minis
ter at Lima dated July 1874 written subsequent to an
opinion given by Mr. O'Connor
Mr. Biane-Hased on that opinion.
Q.-And subsequent TO that opinion II you please ~
A-Tha note addressed not only after the opinion
of Mr. OConnor, but in consequence Of it,
o. only want e. know whether was addressed al
terwardi A. rsstcrtly)-Aftcrwad,- Ond IN cOnsc-
quence of and based upon it, II the gentleman wants
information | WI give u 70 MN Ina, note Was d sg
consequence of that opinion. when the Secretary Of
State question 10 the law officer OF the Depart
before he writes communication based upon il. And
so, the order OF TINE That note oi Alr flsh came
after, and not before. Naturally 1t came after Laugh
ter
NO FURTHER THAN MIR. FIsH WENT
MI Belmont-1ne important thing is whether Mr.. Fish
dered that report Of Mr. OConuors emitting him
TO go as far as you yourself went.
Mr. Baine-I did not go any further than Mr. Fish did
Mr. Bclmont-Tbat remains 10 BE- seen.
MI Baine-But you emphasize the " after want
to impress upon your mind that when communication
is addressed BY the Secretary OF state based an
o,nion oiven by the law officer OF the Department the
commune itiOn il altcr-always after. Laughter
MIR Belmont suppose that that viii not be any IN
formation to any member OF the COMMITTEES. But my
point is whether not you went farther In your insiruc
lions Mr.. Fish went III his letter 10 Mr. Thomas, Of
July. ls74. which, as yon have correctly stated was
the Department Did Mr. Fis declare that the claim Of
j. c. audrcau belonged to that class of claims regarding
the settlement OF which settled practice OF the
Government not TO interfere beyond the exercise of its
Mr. Bane-That Of course. is true
MI BolmOnt-Mas not Mr Thomas on that occasion
distinctly INSTRUCTED by Mr. 'fish that he was only
with the Peruvian authorities in behalf OF j. e. Land
rean, with view OF securing for MN from that Govern
meui speedy investigation and adjustment OF his
Mr Rlaiue-Ycs and that is all that ever asked No
Secretary of STATE has ever asked more.
Mi, Bcimont-l wish 10 call attention TO the word
unOihciaily."
Mir blame lironicallyi-As you seem In be entirely
pracsed in diplomatic afaira you VIII please tell
al this point What the difference bet good offices
used Unofficial, aud Used Officially: anu then Will
give you information "fterwnrd
hlr Behnont-it Is / who AN asking question: and
NOT the
DIR. Biaine-A witness occasionally has, however the
reut 10 correct his examiner
Mr.. he Inont-A correction is very different thing
ky Bialne~Just at this point wish to mako one Of
the corrections which II is the right Of witness
to make. Instead OF taking detached and litte
pat ohcs out Of Mr. Fsh note Il s well 10 INT The whole
note III (Mr here quoted from note Of
tary tls II regard TO the Landrcau claim, in which
ssys that i, il the scttcd purpose Of The in
respect to such claims not to interfere be
never wanted TO ettp he yond that The word .nuott
the opinion of the Dcari nent. and 10 that in
no sense /, n domand to be made Tor payment. When
General Jackson had his troubles with France he maze
a demand. When We mad our war with Mexico, we had
Tlat means that We were going TO enforce he denond
There distinction between that and the word I'M
Ohic ally" The word unOflclaiiy Is used a quail
n-atinn II give distinct Information that While
the is believed 10 be just claim, it the
teHtion oi the Government to make demand for lts
payment 10 be backed up by force.
Mr.. bcmont-Is that the explanation OF what ''un-
MIR. Blaine-Cerainly it is the explanation; and Mr.
Evsrts with that letter OF Mr.. Fshs before him made
unofficial" tie simply stated hat Mr.. Fish instructed
Mr.. Thomas 70 use his good Offices
Mr. Il lm0nt-ihen maj Is Your understanding OF
what "unOficial mcau-l"
SIr Blan-O course. II is Just careful qualifca-
ton. meaning that the claimant Is 10 have all MD that
De gwen D. tue Kindly action OF this Minister hut
~ % which the Government going
usc force THAI al that was ever done about lie
l.andreau CAIN by any Secretary Of state Az 10 my
making any further demand about it, II Mr. Belmont
desires Information. lac CaH have II.
Mr nemout-fes; | saogld very much like 70 know
Mr.. Ilinc j have given II to You. That NY tx
pluaton fthc desires any further nor ma
lion, VIII be giad TO enishten him.
HAPPY 10 INF0EM MIR. BELMONT
Mr. uelmont-Yes desire to get some moro Iufor1na
iOn.
Mr. Blaine-I shall be happy 10 give il.
Mr. Belmout-On December is. 1881, you Informed
Mr. Trcscot that yOur predecessor r Fish. instruct
,he then Minister Lima to his good Offices with the
Peruvian authorities in behalf Off C. Laudreau IT Mr.
Fish on that occasion only authorized Mr. Thomas
his GOOD Offices unoi cay. do you consider your
Instructions Mr Trescot contained fair and
representation TO him OF the Instructions of hr Fish
NT IAomhs
Mr. Blaine Just the same as Mr.. Evarts male in hs
official communication TO Congress. used the exact
language which M. hVaris used
Nj Be.m nj repeated us question; and the answer
MAS - OF course"
sir Belmout-You did
Mr.. bia.no--Of course; ana nobody VINO knows a
solitary A b OF diplomacy would think otherwise
Mr. blune-f an giving 81 sery emphatically.
lLaugLicrl say that 10 person cXcep one entirely
igno ans OF diplomacy could tuna other"iso.
Nj. BcnOnl wa about 10 pat another question when
Mr. Blaine interrupted, saying " Mt Belmont HOPE"
/ i.H not here asa witness u a pOhce CONT 10 be
bAdgcrcd all hese 20 aus "er a4uestion, aud must
me whatever questions yOI please but remember you
must nos attempt 10 stop me while an answering"
MI Belmont nave tic nigucs, Respect for Mr. Blaine
not Only a older than myself. but account Of
the hlgn positions ne has held ana think lie Will ind
hc Will simply answer nay questions ne Wall gel
along better.
Nj Eiaine-I certainly will do nothing today, hope
TO forfeit Nj. Bolmont's respect; bu he must allow
his qutt lions Ia ny own way. iie has been
attempting to make a point about my leaving out The
Woid unofficial ia q very hurried dis because
the newspapers OF that time representing that
we're going 10 make behalf Of some claim en-
ia, b,f
diplomatic negotiation with Chill OF any great
qutlc. and wanted 10 correct tc impression
Government doing any thing that would III gOlse
condition Of war, account Of claims.
MORE NONsENsiCAL HYPERCRITICIsM.
Mr. Bl4ine-f made a distinction bet woeu the Cochet
claim whicR hal been egtrly thrown by the state