The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-02

Secretary Oiney's Messenger Reach'
Switzerland ON Time.

Secretary Olney's Messenger Reaches
Switzerland ON Time.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Dec. 81 A ca
blegram from Lausanne. Switzerland. an
nOuuces the arrival there this morning
OF messenger from Washington, who
presented 10 the president of the Inter
national Court of Arbitration the docu-
mcnts in the famous LOndrean claim
against Peru. with only few hours
10 spare. "a secret arrangement between
Great Britain. France ana Chilli TO divide
tho GuamO fund now I'm the Bank OF
England was prevented from being entire
ly cOnsummated without the admission Of
American claims.
II appears that a sum aggregatng
S3,5pOODO had accumulated In the Bank
OF England as tine proceeds of guduO sold
by Chilli in accordance with article : OF
the treaty or peace between that country
and Peru. ratified ln March, 1851, which
provided that the net proceeds Of the
sale of one million tons of guaRo should
be equally divided between the Chilean
Government and the creditors Of Peru.
Subsequently the English holders OF
Peruvian bonds arranged with Peru 10
settle tle debt or the terms OF the we'll
known Grace agreement, and the British
Government forced Chill 10 cede 10 tho
bondholders Of fhe Bank Of England dee
pOsit and ai guanO proceeds FOR eight
years amounting altogether 20 over ten
France Immediately interposed a claim
Of priority tor Drcyfus a. Co, OF Paris,
who asserted that this guano he'd been
a guarantee 10 them Of twenty million
franc loan 10 Peru.
Under these circumstances the three
Governments concerned agreed 70 leave
The matter entirely 10 tribunal. COM
posed OF three justices Of the supreme
Federal Court OF Switzerland. Including
the Chief Justice. who should distribute
The fund ga the pauk of England
The court met nearly q year ago ana
announced that it would receive petitions
and evidence until April 30. 1880
The American Minister at Berne not-
lied the State Department of this fact.
and Secretary Gresham by vigorous ac-
lion. succeeded 10 having The time eN-
tended TO September 18th. and the inquiry
broadened % include american claims
against Chill ana Peru.
The LOndrean case had already been
fully presented 90 the Chilian Claims Com
mission which met in Washington dur
'ng the summer OF 1884 but was not
chen considered, the tribunal deciding that
10 had no Jurisdiction over the case.
When Secretary Olnoy came INTO The.
state Department he saw that the voiu-
min0us evidence and documents could NOT
possibly he rendered into French as early
as September 2Jth. yet fl was absolutely
essential that this should bee done. as an
The PROCEEDINGS OF the Swiss court wer0
Conducted Bon that language, and ITS rules
provided that all documents should be In
Secretary Olney secured further de-
las to December 3lst which the court
granted, but declared must Oc uudL
Every facility was offered the claimants
by Secretary Olney and the entire de-
Dartments force of expert translators
was assigned 20 the case and worked on
IL steadily for several months.
Two weeks ago the evidence was print
ed. and the messenger with the copies
left Immediately for Switzerland. Ills
passage had been engaged by the 81.
Paul. but on account Of the exploded
steam pipe on that vessel ne was COM
PEELED to take the Campania, and only
arrived I'm HaVre on Sunday last. Then
began the race 10 switzerland, resulting.
as announced by t0-dsy's cable. in The
delivery of the documents 90 the court
only a few hours ahead of the expiration
81 the final limit of time.
IL Is understood that the total amount
10 be distributed By the Swiss court viii
probably exceed 100000, which is about
The figure of the Londrean claim. which
is said TO have priority over that OF the |
French banker Drcyfus. -.
IL Is intimated that the action OF Chilli !
in Withholding from the United states !
knoWledge OF the secret convention enter !
cd into Tor the distribution Of a fund IN |
which American claimants had so much |
interest calls for explanation-Philadel-
l'hia Record.