No. 114.
Mr. Valderrama to Mr. Asta-Buruaga.
Ministry of Foreign Relations ,
November 22, 1880.
Sir: In a separate note I acquaint you with the result of the conference of Arica, which took place through the medium of the friendly co-operation of the Government of the United States.
This result cannot have been satisfactory, I am convinced, to that government, which had desired, as that of Chili desired, that its intervention in this delicate matter should have been accompanied by the most complete results.
[Page 154]For this reason I consider it necessary to set forth to you, in all frankness, the causes which induced the Government of Chili to accept the good offices of the United States, in the conviction that its noble efforts would not be barren of result.
My government very well realizes the important part which the policy of the United States justly plays in the international movements of the whole world. But before accepting its high mediation in the affairs of the Pacific, it was thought proper that the necessary precautions should be taken, in order to feel assured that its good offices would reach the desired result. With this purpose in view, my government was careful to express, with all frankness, that it could not for its part arrive at a peace without the cession by Peru and Bolivia of the territories which extend to the south of Camarones as an equitable compensation for the enormous expenses and sacrifices which have been demanded of it by the present war.
This same declaration was made by His Excellency the President of the Republic to Mr. Christiancy, in the presence of Mr. Osborn, when the former came from Lima, toward the end of August last. His Excellency the President stated moreover to Mr. Christiancy, on that occasion, that his demand in this respect was absolute and final, so that it would be futile to take any steps in the direction of realizing the projected conference suggested by the Government of the United States without first obtaining the assurance that the allied governments would accept the prior condition proposed.
Mr. Christiancy, who came from Lima, and who, it was natural to suppose, would be impressed by the views of the Peruvian Government, declares in the most unmistakable and positive manner that he was persuaded that the Government of Peru would agree to the cession of territory which Chili demanded, and that therefore the conference would yield the peaceful results which the United States aimed at.
Although Mr. Christiancy was not accredited to my government, he did not for that reason cease to be a representative of the United States, in whose affirmations faith should be reposed, in view especially of the great importance of the affair which gave rise to them.
In naming its plenipotentiaries, my government confided in the assurances given by Mr. Christiancy, and cherished well-founded hope that the conference would give a happy result.
You are already aware that Peru refused absolutely any cession of territory, and that the result of the conference did not correspond to the assurances of Mr. Christiancy.
My government considers that it could not better respond to the fraternal spirit of which the United States have given it such proofs than by declaring with sincerity, as it now does, that the failure of this conference is in nowise to be imputed to any action on the part of Chili.
I desire that you will seek a fitting occasion to give to the Government of the United States confidential knowledge of this dispatch.
May God guard you.