New-York tribune., 1896-01-01
AMERICAN CLAIMS PUT IN.
A RACE AGAINST TIME FROM WASHING
TON TO LAUSANNE.
THE MESSENGER BEARING DOCUMENTS IN THE
LANDREAU CASE ARRIVES JUST IN TIME ~
SUBMIT THEM TO THE INTERNATIoN-
AL COURT OF ARBITRATION.

1.xDREA1, CASE ARRIVES JUST IN TIME TO
sr-nMIr THEM TO THE INTERNATIoN
Al COURT OF ARBITRATION.
Washington Dec 3l-A cable dispatch from
Lausanne. Switzerland. announces the arrival there
this morning OF a messenger from Washington VINO
presented to the president OF the International Court
~ Arbitration the documents in the famous Lam
dreau claim against Peru With only rev houfs
to spare a secret Arrangement between Great BIlt-
ain France and Chill to divide the guano iuhd now
in the Bank of England prevented from being
entirely contaminated without the admission OF
American claims. 1t appears that sum aggresa'-
ing e. 1000 had accumulated in the Bank OF Eng
land as the proceeds Of guano sold by Chn IN ao-
cordance with Article ~ OF the treaty or peace
between that country and Peru. ratified In March'
1884 which provided that the net proceeds OF the sale
of 100000 tons OF guano should be equally dividcd
he,ween the Chilian Government and the creditors
OF Peru Subsequently the English hoiders OF
Peruvian bonds arranged with Peru 10 settle 'he
debt on the terms OF the wel-known Grace agree
ment and the British Government forced Chiil 10
cede 10 the bondholders the Bank OF England de-
nost and all guano proceeds for eight years amount
ing altogether to over 100000 France immc lately
Interposed a claim OF priority for Dreyfus & Co.. OF
Paris who asserted that this guano had beeh
guarantee to them OF @0oVO franc loan 20 feiu
Under these circumstances the three Governments
concerned agreed to leave the matter entirely to
tribunal composed OF three Justices OF the supreme
Federal Court OF Switzerland. including the Chicf
Justice who should distribute the fund In the Bank
of England
The court met nearly year ago and announced
that it would receive petitions and evidence until
Apr,l 30 1885 The American Minister to berne IN
formed the State Department Of this fact ana Sec
retary Gresham. by vigorous action. succeeded IN
ha wing the time extended to September . ana me
inouiry broadened include American cams
sgsinst Chill and Peru The Landreau case had al
ready been fully presented TO the Chilian CIalIs
Commission which met in Washington during me
snmmer OF 1894. but not then consdcreu' the
tribunal deciding that 1t had no jurisdiction over
When Secretary Olney came into the state DE,
nartmcnt he saw that the voluminous evidence ana
Sociments could not possibly be Translated inlo
Erencn as early as September 20. yet IL was aDso-
iutey essential that this should be done as an tne
oroceedngs OF the Swiss Court were conducted IN
that language and its rules provided that an docu
ments should be In French. Secretary Oiney Sc
cured a further delay to December H. which ire
court granted but declared must be nnal -
Every facility was offered TO the claimants Dy
Secretary Oney and the Departments force OF eN
oert translators was assigned to the case ,Snd
xxorked on IL steadily FOR several months Two
u,eeks ago the evidence was printed ana thc ms
senger with the copies left here immediatiy ior
Swifzerand. His passage had been engaged by me
G, paul hut on account OF the accident 20 tnat Ne'
Gel ne was compelled 10 take the Sampaha anu
only arrived in Havre Sunday Then began ire