The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-28
CHILL AND PERU.
An Attempt OF the U. S. Minister to Med
die in the Peace Negotiations Repudi-
ated by the United States.

An Attempt OF the y. S. Minister to Med
die in the Peace Negotiations Repudi-
ated by the United States.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-President Arthur to-
day transmitted to the Senate report from
the Secretary of State in response to Van
Wyck's resolution of inquiry adopted yesterday
touching the alleged Joint agreement be.
tween the ministers of the United States. of
Great Britain, of France and of Italy now
serving at Lima and Peru to make joint
effort to bring about peace between Chill and
Peru, and asking whether the minister of the
United States had been instructed to invite or
acceptt the mediation of European powers in set
tlement of a purely American question.
The Secretary of State reports that he re-
ceived despatch from Mr.. Partridge which
states that for reasons therein given the repre-
sentatves of Great Britain, France, Italy and
the United States Germany declining to take
any parD were led to consider at IN informal
meeting at Mr.. Partridge's house by what
mode solution Of existing difficulties might
be reached. Mr.. Partridge and his colleagues
accordingly agreed on a memorandum which
was to be sent by each OF the ministers to his
own government as setting forth their views
and hopes. The ministers state in substance
that they are unanimously OF the opinion that
each should declare to his government that
they believe the only possible means to bring
about cessation of hostilities, of saving Peru
from complete destruction and of arrest
ing the ruin of nentrals would be
an agreement between the governments to ad-
dress representations to the Chilian govern
ment and cause it to understand that their
wish is TO see peace made on basis of a ces-
sion OF Tarapaca resarving all further condi-
tions for further negotiations. The ministers
further declare they consider it their duty to
invite their respective governments to agree
among themselves to take the step indicated
at once as an urgent necessity.
Upon receipt of this dispatch Mr. Partridge
was notified By the Secretary of State in sub
stance that the leave of absence which he had
requested was granted and that he was ex-
pecied to return to the United States by the
first steamer. He was further informed that
the action set forth in his dispatch having been
taken by Linn without authority was disapproy-
ed and he was directed TO SO inform those of
his colleagues who had acted with him. A
telegram was at the same time sent to the min
listers of the United States in London, Paris,
and Rome informing them that Mr. Partridge
had joined with the representatives of Great
Britain, France and Italy in a recommen-
dation to their respective governments
to interfere in the Chili-Peru diff
culties and instructing him to inform the
governments to which they are respectively
accredited that this action was taken by Mr..
Partridge without authority and has not been
approved.
Mr.. Lowell has answered that this ir struc.
tion has been complied with. In answer to
the inquiry of the Senate the Secretary of
State has the honor to say that she minister of
the United States has not been instructed to
invite or accept the mediation of European
powers in settlement Of difficulties there exist
ing.