Claims are also made by persons in Lima for injuries to person and
property.
Several hundred thousand dollars, the property of Americans, was lost in
Callao when Prado’s forces entered and sacked that city in 1865. In
reference to these last, the government of Prado made arrangements,
through congress, to adjust them; but now, as all of Prado’s acts are
declared null and void, these claims will, in all probability, meet with
the same fate.
I most earnestly desire the advice and instructions of the department on
this very important and delicate question. As yet, I have made no
diplomatic claims of any kind, as the government of Colonel Prado
promised me, unofficially, to fairly adjust all claims of American
citizens without resorting to diplomatic correspondence.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Montjoy to Mr. Hovey.
Consulate of the United
States,
Lambayeque,
January 18, 1868.
Honorable Sir: Since my last, the sacking
and burning of Ulates and Torms, in this province, has been
continued systematically and deliberately by armed parties that
formed part of the army of Colonel Balta in Chiclayo, and commanded
by governors and other officials appointed by him, and arrived to
such an extent that, in view of the depredations committed upon
foreigners and upon foreign capital, the foreign consuls have
considered it necessary to protest against such acts in the name of
their respective governments, and in the name of the citizens and
subjects of all other nations who have been or may be injured in
person or property in such a cruel and wanton manner, that the
republic of Peru may be held responsible for the act of its public
officers.
The greater part of the devastation has been committed since official
notice has been received of the change of government in Lima, and
that Colonel Balta has ordered or permitted these excesses is proved
by his appointment as sub-prefect, of Tomas Sello, in this city, who
publicly receives and banquets the leaders and officers of these
marauders.
The estate of Mr. Alexander Ruden has been utterly destroyed, his
loss amounting, I am told, to more than $60,000. I have advised many
other Americans to apply to you for redress, as I am powerless to
assist them.
I inclose with this dispatch a copy of protest, also a dispatch for
“Decano,” of diplomatic corps, with copy of the same to be made
public in the manner that body may determine. I request you to cause
it to be delivered.
I have the honor to be your excellency’s very obedient servant,
S. C. MONTJOY, United States
Consul.
His Excellency Major General A. P.
Hovey,
&c., &c., &c.
[Page 847]
[Translation.]
In the city of Lambayeque, capital of the province of that name,
in the department of La Libertad, Peru.
On the 14th day of January, 1868, the consular body, resident in
this city, met, under the presidency and in the office of its
dean, the consul of the United States, with the object of taking
into consideration the burning and sacking of valuable property
belonging to foreigners, and to Peruvians, committed before the
public as witnesses, and before the constituted authorities, by
forces, armed, which sallied from the towns near to the places
burned, those forces being commanded by officers of their own
and by some of the political authorities of the district; that
when the immediate solution of the conflict at Chiclayo was
confidently hoped for, and the re-establishment of order in
these provinces, together with the reassertion of the guarantee
covering life and property, a fatal overturning of the social
order followed, destroying property, signalized by the sacking
and burning of the establishment of the foreigners, Solf &
Co., of Chiclayo, Santiago Feely in Jayanca, and of the farms
Viña, Balangrande, and Chocofe, the property of Peruvians, in
which many foreign employe’s lost all of their possessions; that
moreover, this city, the farm of Errepon, Patapo, Molina de Sta
Lima, and others, the property of foreigners, are threatened
with a like fate; that such a state of things forms now the most
disconsolate and horrid picture; offering to Peru and to the
civilized world the most difficult and exceptional situation in
which a country could be placed after the effervescence of the
political crisis has passed by. In such a situation the consular
corps, composed of the undersigned, resolved—
First. To protest, as it does protest, against the above
mentioned acts, and against the violation of the guarantees
expressed in existing treaties, in the name of their respective
governments, and in the name of all foreign citizens, who have
been injured or who may be, in their persons or in their
property; and declares that it believes the government of Peru
to be responsible for the depredations committed by its
subordinates and its armed forces.
Second. To send a copy of this protest to the dean of the
diplomatic corps, resident in Lima, that he may inform the
government of Peru of its contents; and also may inform the
other foreign representatives.
Third. That copies be likewise sent to each one of the ministers
or diplomatic agents of the countries represented by the
undersigned.
SANTIAGO C. MONTJOY, Consul of the
United States.
GREGORIO DEL CASTILLO, Consul of
Chili.
JUAN J. TIRADO Y PORTE, Consul of the
United States of Venezuela.
MANUEL DE NECO, Consul of the United
States of Colombia.
