New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-16
MACCORD CLAIM EXPLAINED
A STATEMENT FROM THE PERUVIAN
MINISTER.

MINISTER
COMPLICATIONS IN WHICH RAILROADS AND REvo-
1rrIoNs FIGURED HOW THE FINAL
SETTLEMENT WAS MADE.
washington July 15.-Sefor Eeuiguren. the new
Peruvian Minister. makes the following authorita-
tive statement regarding his Governments refusal
to pay the MacCord claim
The MacCord claim was commenced IN the year
1888 for occurrences which had taken place IN the
month OF June OF 1886 1t Is therefore quite natural
that after so long a lapse Of time the manner In
which this claim originated should have been Tor
gotten and Il Is on this account, doubtless, that
the newspapers which have from time TO time oc-
cupied themselves with the question have written
enormously upon IT, In 1855 General Yglesias was
President Of Peru A revolution, headed By Gen.
eral Caceres was Begun against him. The city OF
Araou,pa where the central station OF the rail-
roads of the south of Peru Is located was In pos
session of the revolutionists and Mr.. MacCord was
the superintendent Of these railroads. General
Yglesias ordered his troops TO charge on Arequipa,
but they could not make this move from the port
Of Mollendo by reason OF the fact that Colonel San
Roman. Project Of Arequipa, had ordered MacCord
10 retire his locomotives from that port. But on
certain day one of the locomotives found It's way
to Arequipa, ard the troops OF General fgiesias
were in this manner enabled to advance. There
was a combat and boodshed. The Project. San
Roman, imposed for this occurrence a fire on the
railroad company Of 10000 soes G5.oO0). and held
the superintendent until this amount was paid On
payment being made. MIR. MacCord continued 10
reside in tranquility at AreQuipa without institute
ing a claim Of any kind, Notwithstanding the iact
that in December Of 1885 the revolution had TER
minated and the government of Peru was assumed
by junta, and that In May. 1885, General Caceres
had been elected Constitutional President In 1888
the Government Of Peru undertook TO adminstrate
upon its own account the railroads Of the SOUTH
old hut Tho
employed MacCord.
CLAIM MADE AFTER THREE YEARS
This deprived him of his position as superinten-
dent. and II is significant that 1t was only 'heh
that he (MacCord) saw fit to remember the occur
rences of 1885, and determined TO make calm Tor
1900 soles $4,000. which represented the amour,
Of the fine imposed. This claim was duly placed
before the Government of Peru by Mr.. BUCK on
August 8, 1888. On October "a Of the same year MT
Buck presented a second claim, based on the fact
that the Government of Peru. In undertaking the
administration Of the railroads OF the south had
in so doing ignored the United States Consulate
This Consulate represented by Mr. MacCord
who had the archives in the same building which
served as the railroad station. l must now say
that Mr.. MacCord not acting In the capacity
of Consul In 1885 These two claims were stimuli
taneously discussed in Lima between Mr.. Buck and
the Minister of Foreign Relations Azamora. and
al Washington between Mr. Zegarra and Mr.. Bay
dsputaby that occasion that the 10000 soles had
not been paid by Mr.. MacCord Individually but
by the railroad company. the first claim was modi
fed by the assertion that II not refunding
OF the fine itself imposed. which was sought. but
Inflammation for the manner which had been
employed in effecting 1t. The Government Of Peru
argued that the nation could not be held culpable
or accountable for the action Of the revolution
lists. and in contra to this argument IL as
serted that General Caceres. on being elected Pres
vol of ha npAi INN Ip,,. ata
approval does not strengthen the claim In any wise
II is considered not on account of imposition Of
procedure of its collection ''"'eo' u TIC
HOW THE MATTER WAS SETTLED.
THE Government of Peru did not approve and
could not POSSIBLY approve acts Of which 1t had no
knowledge. since the Project. San Roman had not
sent any notification Of them, nor had Mr. Mac
Cord formulated any complaint. The debate in re-
gard 10 the claims was being pushed In Lima and
in Washington until Mr.. Buck and Senior Alzamora
came finally to an understanding which completely
had been termed a violation Of the American Con.
suate., This arrangement was finally concluded
spondence on January Is, 1889 'O''
REGARDING the other claim, termed for personal
injury il appears that neither Mr.. Buck nor Mr..
Bayard considered 1t Of any Importance whatever,
and os and 1t S
one initiated on October "a should be concluded,
be M pends ee
without the already concluded MacCord AFFAIR being
tOucneO anu II was only Teopentu III DeCeHlDeI,
1891. During this lapse Of three years Peru ar
ranged her foreign debts delivering the railroads to
the bondholders Of these debts. who compromised
themselves to pay all the outstanding debts con-
nected with the railroads, with the understanding
that the settlement OF the Southern Railroads debts
this amount which originated the claim. has been
restored. not to Mr. MacGord but to the company
rights to the PeruviaTcorporation which again APP
pointed Mr.. MacCord superintendent OF the South
ern Railroad and he is at present quietly discharg-
ing his duties without moestation Of any kind or
from anybody.
"Such il the truth concerning the MacCord af-
fair and II remains for only TO say that the
United States Government has never demanded a
specifed sum Of money for Mr. MacCord. and that
on the other hand the Peruvian Government has
never made any offers. simply declaring that 1t is
not under any obligation to Mr. MacCord."