No. 111.
Mr. Evarts
to Mr. Osborn.
Washington, February 19, 1880.
Sir: I have received a dispatch from the minister of the United States at Lima, with a copy of a letter from the consul at Lambayeque, Mr. Montjoy, from which it appears that certain property of the American Oil Company, at Talara, which is described as “exclusively American property,” and other like effects at the Lobos Islands, have been destroyed by the fleet of Chili; also that a launch belonging to an American steam tug-boat was captured and taken away by the Chilian vessels, although made fast to the steamer and flying the American ensign.”
It is understood that these facts are already within your cognizance You will bring these acts to the early attention of the Chilian Government, and so represent the matter as may distinctly show, without however any appearance of captious opposition to the legitimate processes and needs of war, that the United States expect the equitable rights of their citizens under treaty and the law of nations to be respected to the full, as befits the relations between two such friendly powers.
I am, &c.,