No. 535.
Mr. Evarts
to Mr. Christiancy.
Washington, April 19, 1880.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 140, in which yon inclose a report of Consul Montjoy, relative to the destruction of neutral property at the Lobos Islands by Chilian vessels.
The Department had received information from our minister at Santiago of the issuance of the order, which appears to have been in part carried out at these islands, on the occasion referred to, and also of a representation made by the minister to the Chilian Government, to the end of procuring a modification of the order in the interest of neutral citizens of the United States. This government will not fail to protest to the minister of Chili in Washington against the conduct of the war, to the injury of citizens of the United States; and should Peru pursue a like course to that of Chili, it will be expected that you will make due representations to the minister of foreign affairs, to prevent damage to the citizens of this country and to restrict the collisions of a military character, the cruelties and devastations of the war.
I am, &c.,