The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-02
The Approaching Congress in Peru.

Although the date fixed Cor tho meeting OF
the Peruvian Congress Is close AT hand, de-
tailed information is still lacking with re-
gard TO the composition OF that body. 1t IL
known, indeed, that majority OF the men,
bers chosen favor the ratification Of tho
treaty OF peace Professionally concluded by
Gen. IaLEsIAs with tho Santiago Govern
ment 30 far as Its principal provisions are
concerned. There are signs, however, OF
considerable differences OF opinion between
the thoroughgoing supporters Of the IaLE-
sIAs programme aud the representatives
both OF the PIERoLA and OF tho Ciuilista or
CALDERoN factions. These differences turn
mainly on the guano clauses OF tho conven-
tlon. and 1t is rumored that tho foreign cred
itors of Peru have prevailed upon several
European powers to urge upon Chill the ac-
ceptance OF terms more favorable to the In
terests Of tho bondholders.
Any such action will OF course be looked
upon with undisguised disfavor by the
United States. 1t Is not for our Government,
that bndc the French withdraw from Mexico,
though their invasion was professedly un-
dcrtakcn on behalf OF Mexico's creditors, to
sanction even by implication an attempt OF
European powers to enforce in an American
republic tho claims OF foreign investors who
bought Peruvian securities at their pri-
vate risk. Peru should have bethought her.
self Of her fiscal obligations before she
plunged into war; and her creditors should
have taken into account the contingent
cies OF o contest between Peru and
her naishbors before they purchased her
paper. The absurdity Of tho principle which
European bondholders would like to estab-
lish in the case of the guano islands and
nitrate yielding districts OF Peru, will be
made patent by applying 1t a little nearer
home. Suppose that before 1870 certain
Issue OF French bonds had been specially
guaranteed by tho revenues Of Alsace-Lor-
raine. does any sane person imagine that
British holders OF those bonds would have
summoned BISMARCK to make good their
guarantee or surrender tho provinces an
nexed to Germany Obviously. II such
doctrine were accepted In Europe, a given
country-Turkey, for exnmple-by adroitly
mortgaging beforehand all its taxpaying re-
sources, could evade all the responsibilities Of
war, and attack Its neighbors with impunity.
No European publicist would venture to
defend the principle that the private claims
Of bondholders are to DO enforced with all
the powers Of their respective Governments,
except in tho case o. Egypt, which Is utterly
deience'es5, and OF weak American common
weaiths which European States are still too
much disposed to look upon as existing only
upon suffernnce. We can comfort Chilli, how.
ever, with the assurance that in this matter
there Is not the slightest likelihood that tho
bark will DO followed by bite. Protest and
buster as 1t may, no European power, re-
calling tho lesson received by France in
Mexico. will intcrpose with SO much rs o
boats crew in the settlement OF the questions
In dispute between Chilli and Peru. Let the
parties to the late war In South America 20
on and adjust the guanO, nitrate, and terri
torial indemnity clauses OF their projected
treaty with u single eye to their mutual
interests and convenience.
In view Of the summary removal OF ono
American envoy for presumng to coun-
tenance the attempt OF European diplo-
matists to dictate terms Of peace to the
Pacific commonwealth, 1t Is no longer pos
sible to doubt or mlsrepresent the firm do.
termination of our Government. Mr.. FIRE.
| LINaHUYsEN will DO true to the national
| traditions and to the all but unanimous wish
OF the American people II he meets all pro-
posals for foreign intermeddling In the
Chileno-Peruvian controversy with the curt
reply, Hands of!