New-York tribune., 1886-01-31
MANY DIPLOMATIC DELAYS
AMERICAN GOODS SEIZED BY CHILL
REASONS WHY THE CLAIM o. TnX UNITED srArgs
IIASEOT BEEN PAID,

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-Access has bee,
gained to papers which diselos; interesting
chapter OF American diplomatic history. On August 2
! 1880, the American Bank Note Company consgucd 10
| Wells, Fargo Il Co. twenty-four OF Peruvian
bank-note forms and four OF Peruvian postage
stamps. The consignment valued at $3i,700. Tho
face value Os the bank notes up into tho millions
but they had not OF course, received
the official stamp OF the Peruvian Government
Wells. Fargo & Go. shipped the goods Panama by a
Pacific Mail steamer. At Panama they were rcshppcd
on the British steamer Islay Of the Pacific
Navigation Company. While the Islay lying The
port of Chmbcte she was boarded by the Chan cor
vctte ChacabrocO Her cargo ovcrbaued and tho
Peruvian bank notes and postage stamps transferred
the Chacabreco despite the protests of the captain OF Tho
ISlay. Messrs Wells. Fargo & Co. had to
reimburse the American Bank Note Company for
tbe yalnc OF the consignment and Immediately
tried TO invoke the power Of the United States Govern
mcnt TO compel persuade Chill TO pay them in turn
S3i.700 with interest
Article IA of tho treaty of 1882 with Chill stpuates
that the liberty off, shall extend TO all kndsOf
merchandise, excepting those only which are distin
guished by the cOntraband" Then folio list
OF contraband goods, which among other implements OF
war include such obsolete material buuderbUsses
bucklers, spears, breastpIates and coats of mall
Article Is expressly states that "aI other
merchandise shall be held apd considered
as free aud subjects of free and lawful con-
merce so that they may be carried and
transported in the reest manner to boh the contracting
parties even to places belonging to an enemy' eX
ceptng only those places which are at that time Desegd
or bockaded aud TO avoid all doubt in this particular 10
is declared those places only besieged or block
AIDED which are actually attacked by begerent force
capable OF preventing tho entry Oi the neutral" The
British Isay not attempting to violate any
blockade The goods seized belonged to American
citizens and Wells. Fargo & Co. anticipated no
difIcultyy in getting their claim promptly settled.
this because similar consignment of bank notes which
they had shipped to the Chlian Government had been
seized by Peruvian war-ship and promptly restored
when proper representations were made In the Garner
history most Of the correspondence on tie
part OF the state Department ana Wells. Fargo Cowas
conducted by the Second Assistant Secretary OF sae"
Hunter on October 6, 1850 no wrote to Wells. Fargo
Il Co. that IL was hardly expect any definite ac
ton by the Chilau authorities, but from Mr Chfls
taucy's dispatches there is little room TO DOUBT
that the matter will be pressed ny MIN WIN
all possble aad convenient Dispatch" On October 20
Mr Evar;s wrote to Wells, Fargo q CO. IL had been
suggested him that the seizure by the Chians had
been intended retIllaory measure for the similar
seizure by the Peruvian Government OF bank notes IN
tended for the Gillian Government and lie was not then
aware that the Peruvian Government had restored The
goods Mr. Eyarts wrote MIR. Osborne has
been instructed that this Government cannot
be Indifferent the nfrngements Of the commercial
rights OF citizens ny either De.lSerehts tiaO no
course OF mutual retaliation can be garled as lsuy-
ing such infringement, or as impcrng the rlsh oI the
neutral owners o the property to ieHesS from the party
letter from Mr.. Hunter on January, IS. ISL dis
closes what shrewd use The Chlano nad Deeh mtAih5
from various sources that the noies taken
by the Chilan forces are being forced
OF property seized by said forces" on January 30.
ISL lie wrote the newly appointed Minister OF C4il
facts" on J1iy :. 1881, Mr. Hunter the mat
ter is in suspense aud explained that the Chilian Cow
ernmeut had refused 10 regard the affidavit ot Iheo !ors
H. Freeman, secretary Of the American Bank N0te COM
pany, sufficient evidence that the property DetohSe
% Americans when IL was seized and had sng;
gcs,ed that the afidavIts Of tue president and
yce-president would be more acceptable. Ihercup"n
such additional evidence 20 ownership was furnished
OH iny is Mr. Hunter wrote Wells. Fargo Co. that
the Cnan Government wanted TO sea ihe contract be-
tween the American Bank Note Company ana tho PERU
Wan Government. lt seems tnI tue CulI'n I "a.
mcnt suspected that they hal been charged more Tor
The American Bank Note Company refused to gratIy
their curiosity on the ground taat the e., % con.
IepsI Una. tIe on Soyrmber o. lssi Mr. Hunter
wrote everything that can properly be done In me
interest OF thecamants ~ being promptly ana earnestly
attended to by this Government" on July l5 lss2,
Sir Frelinghuys follows to Wells, Fargo *
Co.: a. The recent and present condition OF Cni ma.
that character" ON November Il. $50. Mr. Frrng
hmy,eH Dn% wrote 70 tGat .nbm, the claim to ab1on
Wells.{ Fargo Co at nrst protested DHt uitmitey'
tirng OF the delay consented Then the ate Drpart
ment was stirred up about the matter for several
months On April II. 1883. Mr. reliughuysen wrote;
entatiOn by the Chlliau Government OF yOuhlhOus
and elaborate argument OF its own side OF ihe case IL
has deemed best to have the papers translated DC
fore framing reply. This, as the translator can Ohy
devote such the work may be spared from cur
rent business has occaSiOued delay which II Is Boped
may be at end
The caim was then allowed TO he dormant for inearly
two years On February 2S lSs5. "Jclnt reSou.IO
requesting the President TO take all proper measures 10
induce the Government OF Chill to pay the claim was re-
erred TO Committee Foreign Affairs ana reported
back favoraby but Congress adjourned before the eso
luton could be passed On March %, lss3 Mt Bayad
wrote to Wells, Fargo & Co. as follows: MY impression
Is that no other than that OF arbtratlou wOun
be likely to result In favor OF the claimants
On March %, 1855. response TO a complaint from
Wells Fargo * Co. about the delay. Mr.. Bayard wrote;
Usually In OF the kind, when II Is proposed 70
submit the question arbitration, the party making tho
proposition regards further discussion OF the subject on
s merits as closed. There sufficient reasons 10
deem your case exception to tbls rule. Cai must
either pay OF her accord pursuant to the decision
OF the arbters she has hitherto declined voluntarily 10
nav and her offer arbrae must be considered an lu-
dicaton OF desire her part To ABSTAIN
from further discussion. II Is not dteMeu
propabe that any other course. even II authorized OF
expedent, would induce her TO acknowledge her &c
cointlbilty" Thereafter the case continued 70 sun-
ber until on January 26 OF this year. resolution was
introduced into the House by Congressman FeItOh,
again requesting tho President to take such measures
as may be proper To induce the Government or CAi 10
nay the aforesaid amount of money To Wells. Fargo
Co" This was referred to the Committee on Foreign