The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-03
THE DREYFCS CLAIM.
Shall the $4,000. 900 60 to Peru or to .
French Bankers

WASHINGTON. Sept. 2-Despatches from Eu.
rope to-day say that in view OF the over
throw Of the Bamaceda Government in
Chill. the claim against Peru known as tho
Dreyfus claim 10 TO b. pressed. and with the
backing OF the French Government. This
claim is one in which the United States has an
indirect interest. tho State Derari ment having
leen placed upon record officially as oppose
to its payment. The facts out Of which tho
claim grows are interesting.
After tue war setween Chilli and Peru q tract
o. land containing rich nitrate beds. and
known as the Ta.apaca desert. was granted
by Peru as peace concession. By tho terms
OF the concession it was stipulated that alter
ten years the people should be allowed to vote
to determine the question which Government
they should live under. Chill or Peru. II they
vo'od TO live in Chilli then they wore to ray
Peru Sl0.000.0oO as the price OF the land. II
the vote was in favor OF Peru. then that coun-
try was 10 pay to Chilli $4,000 900 as war in
demnity. The ten years Will expire within a
few N nths.
There has never been any question as to how
the e pple would vote. The country has been
settled by Chillans and foreigners and large
sums Of money invested By them. 1t is thought
that II a vote were taken to-day nine tenths Of
HE peop woml.t favor Chill. Therefore that
country will ndouhtedy be comuelIed to pay
PERI. $1,000. 900 Tor property which now yields
her y revenue OF probably more than $780,
100000.
At the outbreak OF tho Chili-Peru war a
French banker named Dreylus had a cont tract
with Peru Tor guano and nitrates which gave
i'm the exclusive right 10 mine and exp RI
these products from certain uart OF the Peru
vian territory The war nulitied his contra
and he has claim against Peru for damages
nm uniting 20 many millions Of dollars
Wien il became certain that Chill would
he compelled 10 rag Peru slo.0o9.ooo
tor the Iardpaca desert. Mr.. Draytus who is
very Influential With the French Government.
secured the good once OF President Carnot.
who sent special envoy to Chill to insist til at
the 10000. 600 should be paid to Dreyfus and
not 20 Peru. and this demand WAS backed by
the power o the French Government.
tngls'.d and the tnitAd States both protest.
cd against the claim o. Dreyius aud Carnot
mer one OF his ENTHUSIASTICALLY vigorous de-
spatches 10 the ench Government saying
that the nlted States WAS watching with eX-
ceeiing in crest the negotiations touch .ng tho
Dreytus claim. anu that this country could not
look with approt aticn upon any such tran sac
tl"n as WAS contemplated; 4 similar despatch
was sent NJ to tho chtan govern N snt
to Peru. which country needs It badly. Tho
luglish Government also made the same ap-
reni 10 I hill and that country denied the
claim, President Ba! maceia plainly told the
frsn,h envoy sent by President Larnot that
the money would b. paid to- the Peruvian
Government. AMI that It could not DO gar
nisheel.
Now that the revolution has come tho reIec-
ti0n Of the Drey'uS claim by presi lent BRlma.
CO 10 il urged AS a special reason why it should
be favored W the new Government.