Evening star., 1902-01-02
POLICY TOWARD PERU
Mr.. Pezet's Treatment Attracts Wide
Attention.
fONROE DOCfRINEIN SOUTH AMERICA
This Country's Duty Toward Sister
Republics.
CLAIMS AND OBLIG

Some Of the poIiticai complications which
now distract South America, with the in
terests the United States has therein, are
treated in "The Question of the Pacific
by Mr.. F. A. Pezet. charge d'affaires OF the
Peruvian legation in Washington. Mr..
Pezet is well qualified by reason of his Of
fetal position and his extended diplomatic
service in South America, the United States
and Europe TO give comprehensive view
of the South American controversies of
which he treats. Much of the work is de-
voted to the long-pending controversy be
tween Chile and Peru over the provinces of
Tacna and africa, which Chile wrung from
Peru after the bloody war between those
two countries and has since held, despite
the treaty provision that their ultimate
sovereignty should be determined by vote
of the inhabitants.
Missions in Interests of Peace.
But aside from the Tacna and africa
question, Mr.. PeZet's work is valuable in
bringing out some cS the phases in which
the United States has taken leading part
in South American affairs 1t appears that
no less than three different missions were
sent from this country to South America to
mediate between Chile and Peru and to
prevail upon tHe FORMER country not 10 De
too harsh in its demands upon its weaker
neighbor.. These missions were sent during
the Hayes. Garfield and Arthur adminstra-
tions. At the outset it clear that the
United States took very broad view of
the Monroe doctrine in its application to
the political troubles of South America.
Mr. Pezet quotes a letter to Secretary
Blaine. written by Mr. Hurlbut. one of the
commissioners sent to adjust the Chile-Pe-
ruvian troubles. Mr. Hurlbut wrote:
Duty of This Country
IF the United States. after denying to
these people every application for aid from
any European state. shall themselves refuse
any help in their desperate situation, it
would seem to be almost national breach
of faith / myself profound believer
in the right and duty of the United States
to control the political questions of this
continent, to the exclusion of any and all
European dictations; this / believe to be
the opinion held also by the American peo-
pie and to have been asserted by Congress.
This l also understand to be the doctrine
of the administration. which sent me to
this place.
If this view of the Monroe doctrine had
been maintained it would have made the
United States the controlling factor in the
political questions of South America. But
the first steps taken by Mr.. Blaine were soon
after counteracted when Mr.. Freylinghuy-
sen became Secretary of State. The latter
promptly disapproved the efforts which had
been made by the American commissioners
toward restraining Chile and thereafter
Chile had a free hand in dealing with her
weaker neighbor. Mr. Pezet points out that
Peru's present deplOrable condition Is large
ly the result of the unfortunate moves
made by the United States, first toward re-
straining Chile and then in giving her a
free hand. The author apparently infers
from this that the United States had so
much To do with placing Peru where she IS
Today 1t is Just to expect this country to
take more than merely sentimental inter-
inS af
the hands of her more powerful southern
neghbor.
niaue Position of the Great Republic
Another interesting feature of the work
is its showing of the extent to which the
Monroe doctrine is carried by some of the
most influential statesmen In South Amer
lea DR. Alberto Elmor, justice of the su-
preme court of Peru, gives the following
construction of the Monroe doctrine:
The positive. protective and general
character which the Monroe doctrine is as
suming is consequence of its natural de-
VelOpment; only thus is it efficient for the
defense of the essential and common rights
Of the American nations; only thus is il
reality, for in order to condemn spoliation
1t makes no distinction as to the author;
only with these conditions Is it possible to
prevent oppressed justice from seeking help
from countries on the other side of the
ocean.
1t has been already proved that interna-
sioual law authorizes Intervention within
Certain limits for the protection of the
rights OF another state, or of the outrage
rights of humanity. Right and might are
the two necessary conditions that alone can
render intervention real and legitimately
effective. as is the case in all judicial mat
fers Now. the great republic holds in
America specially prominent position
such as no European nation standing alone
holds In the European continent: she holds
a position in the balance of power so pre-
dominant that she can stand up alone as
the defender and guarantor of international
rlshts deserving the place spoken by Tao
itus OF one of the Germanic peOples-the
chief evidence of her virtue and power is
that. being the first, she has never done an
Injustice
Owing to the complications in Soutb
America just at present Mr. Pezet's treat
ment OF the subject has attracted wide at
tenuon among leading officials of the gov
eminent and members of the two bra n nches
OF Congress In literary circles il has been
most fdvorably received. several of the
presidents OF leading colleges having ex-
pressed their approval of the work for it's
timely explanation of the affairs of tbe
southern republics.
Mr.. Pexet's Position
MIR. Pezet has been in charge of the Pc
ruvlan legation here during the last few
months. while Minister CaIderon has been
attending the congress of American repub
Hc5 at Mexico. During this brief period the
Charge d affaires has created a most favor
able impression upon the officials of rho
state department, who have had occasion
10 confer with him frequently in connec-
tion with the affairs of the congress- q ?
Mexico Mr.. Pezet has thus turned his
snort term OF service to good account hoth
IN an onncial and a literary way