No. 115
Mr. Valderrama to Mr. Asta-Buruaga.
[Translation.]
Republic of Chili,
Ministry of Foreign
Relations,
Santiago, November 22,
1880.
Sir: Referring to the dispatch of this date,
No. 29, I think it opportune to make mention of other facts connected
with the strange attitude assumed by Mr. Christiancy during the
preliminary negotiations which preceded the holding of the conference of
Arica.
You know that in our country, as in Peru and Bolivia, the national
sentiment is extremely susceptible, and is profoundly affected by any
act or demonstration which is capable of being regarded’ as a disregard,
even though involuntary, of the considerations due to the national
dignity.
Knowing these sentiments, the Government of the United States endeavored
with great delicacy to learn privately, and through the medium of its
respective diplomatic agents, what would be the disposition of the
belligerents respecting the acceptance of the mediation of the United
States.
The spirit which led it to proceed in this manner was most obvious; on
the one hand, a desire to be assured of the success of its conciliatory
attempts, and, on the other hand, to find itself in a condition to make
simultaneously to the belligerents the formal offer of its mediation. In
this way it perfectly safe-guarded the natural delicacy of the three
countries.
In the high character of mediator and common friend which the United
States proposed to assume, it became an object of especial attention to
treat the belligerents with identical consideration. It was therefore
indispensable that the necessary precautions should be taken so that no
one of them should appear as taking the first step toward asking or
seeking for peace.
Mr. Osborn seconded most faithfully, in our judgment, the noble policy of
his government. The 5th of August last, he began by inquiring privately,
in an interview what would be the disposition of my government with
respect to the mediation which the United States proposed to offer.
The reply given on the 10th of the same month informs Mr. Osborn that
Chili would have no objection to accepting it, provided that it had the
assurances of equal acceptance on the part of the allies.
Two months later, that is to say, on the 6th of October, Mr. Osborn, for
the first time, offered to my government, as you may see by the
accompanying copy No. 1, the formal mediation of the United States, and
on the 7th, as appears in copy No. 2, he received the reply, in which
the Government of Chili informed him that his offer of mediation was
accepted on our part.
Meanwhile, in the time which elapsed between the conversation held with
Mr. Osborn, in the early part of August, and the formal offer of
mediation which was made in the beginning of October, Mr. Christiancy
thought it proper to come from Lima to Santiago, where he remained
several days, toward the end of August, in order to be able to return in
safety to that capital. The unexpected appearance of Mr. Christiancy in
Chili could not fail, however, to attract attention, causing [Page 156] the very general impression that the
sudden voyage of the American minister was intimately related to the
question of mediation.
The disquietude which was occasioned expressed itself in Congress,
wherein my government was interpolated touching this matter, about the
middle of September.
The government responded, stating what had theretofore occurred in the
premises, that is to say, that there did not exist any formal proposal
of mediation, since there had merely been exchanged with the minister of
the United States, Mr. Osborn, certain views in a private form
concerning the projected office of mediation.
A few days later the journals of Lima published a note from the foreign
minister of Peru, dated the 14th September, and addressed to Mr.
Christiancy. In this note occurred the following:
Informed by you concerning your voyage to Santiago de Chili, to
which place you had gone with the object of proposing to the
government of that republic the mediation of the United States
of America, in order to negotiate a peace with Peru and Bolivia,
a mediation which had been accepted by Chili, in virtue whereof
you proposed it to my government, the latter resolved, after
conferring with the minister plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Bolivia, to accept the offered mediation, &c.
It is seen, therefore, by the paragraph I have quoted, that at the same
time that my government declared, toward the middle of September, in the
chamber of deputies, that up to that time the mediation in question had
not been formally accepted, nor even officially offered, Mr. Christiancy
was affirming, in his turn to the Government of Peru, that he had come
to our country for the purpose of offering it to my government, and that
in view of the acceptance given by this government, he made a like offer
to the government of that republic.
The affirmations made by my government before one of the branches of the
legislative body, and the affirmations of Mr. Christiancy to the
Government of Peru, are altogether irreconcilable.
It does not appertain to me to qualify herein the motives which Mr.
Christiancy may have obeyed in making such a declaration. My purpose is
simply limited to setting upon record that the affirmations of my
government rested faithfully upon the truth.
Mr. Christiancy did not present to my government credentials authorizing
him to act either in respect of the projected mediation or in respect of
any negotiation whatever. He was, therefore, in our country simply as a
distinguished guest, and in no wise as the authorized organ of the
government. If Mr. Christiancy had made, as he affirms, the offer of
mediation, my government would have found itself under the painful
necessity of rejecting such offer, because it did not conform to the
usual practices between two nations; neither would it have been natural
for the Government of the United States, which, with such delicate tact,
had put forth its conciliatory efforts to have set aside its official
representative in Chili, Mr. Osborn, in order to confide the
continuation of this delicate business to a simple visitor, worthy of
all respect, but lacking toward us the representative character.
These well-founded considerations led my government to think that perhaps
the note of the foreign minister of Peru might not faithfully express
the ideas of Mr. Christiancy, and it has awaited until now, but in vain,
a correction on the part of that high functionary, which would
re-establish the truth of the facts.
Subsequently there came to the hands of my government a note which the
same Mr. Christiancy deemed it proper to address to Mr. Lynch, chief of
the Chilian expedition operating upon the north of Peru, and that note
has confirmed, to a certain extent, the ideas which the minister [Page 157] of Peru attributes to Mr.
Christiancy with respect to the form in which the mediation was offered.
I inclose herewith, in copies designated as numbers 3, 4, and 5, the
note of the minister of Peru to which I have made reference, and also
the dispatches exchanged between Mr. Christiancy and Mr. Lynch. It is
not for the present a part of my purpose to take note of the proceeding
employed by the minister of the United States in addressing himself to a
military employé of Chili, for the purpose of making representations to
him, which, from the high source from which they emanated, might induce
the chief of our forces to deviate from the instructions of his
government. My purpose at this time is simply to inform you with
precision of the various steps which preceded the conference of
Arica.
You will take an opportunity to express these facts to the Government of
the United States in confidential form.
May God guard you.
[Inclosure No.
1.—Translation.]
Mr. Osborn to
Mr. Valderrama.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago de Chili, October 6, 1880.
Sir: Your excellency is aware that on the
6th of August last I approached the honorable President of the
Republic of Chili with a view of learning whether the Government of
Chili was disposed to enter into a conference with the ministers of
the other belligerent republics in the present war, in order to
reach an honorable peace under the mediation in the shape of good
offices of the United States. Your excellency was pleased to inform
me, in our interview of the 10th of August, that the government of
Chili would accept the good offices of the United States in the
suggested form, if Peru and Bolivia signified on their part their
acceptance of this idea.
The conditions indicated by your excellency in this interview having
been complied with, I now have the honor to offer formally to the
government of your excellency the mediation of the Government of the
United States, in order that it may be exercised in the proposed
manner.
The form which I suggested in the interview alluded to had in view
the celebration of a conference of the ministers duly authorized of
the three belligerent republics on board of an American vessel of
war, at Arica, in the presence and with the friendly aid and
assistance of the representatives of the United States near the
belligerent government.
With sentiments of high consideration I have the honor to be, sir,
your excellency’s most respectful and obedient servant,
[Inclosure No.
2.—Translation.]
Mr. Valderrama
to Mr. Osborn.
Ministry of Foreign Relations,
Santiago, October 7, 1880.
Sir: I have received the note which you
were pleased to address to me under date of yesterday. After
recalling therein the steps you have taken with a view to
ascertaining if my government were disposed to enter upon the peace
conference with the other belligerents under the mediation in the
form of good offices of the United States, and recalling, also, the
favorable disposition shown by my government provided that those of
Peru and Bolivia should accept on their part a like suggestion, you
inform me that this condition having been already complied with, the
time has come to offer formally to the Government of Chili, as you
now do, the mediation of the United States.
His Excellency the President of the Republic, to whose knowledge I
have brought [Page 158] your
dispatch, has charged me to convey to you the expression of his
gratitude for the noble interest with which the Government of the
United States endeavors to bring about the restoration of peace
between Chili and the allied republics.
My government accepts the mediation in the form of good offices which
you offer to me in the name of the United States, likewise the
proceeding which you suggest to carry it into effect.
I must, before all, repeat here, in order to avoid doubts and
ambiguities, that this acceptance does not involve the suspension of
all hostilities.
I improve this opportunity to renew to you the sentiments of high
consideration with which I have the honor to subscribe myself.
[Inclosure No.
3.—Translation.]
Mr. Barinaga to
Mr. Christiancy.
Department of Foreign Relations and
Worship,
Lima, September 14,
1880.
Mr. Minister: Informed by your excellency
respecting your voyage to Santiago de Chili, to which place you went
for the purpose of proposing to the government of that republic the
mediation of the United States of America, in order to negotiate
peace with Peru and Bolivia, which mediation had been accepted by
Chili, and in virtue of which you proposed the same to my
government, the latter decided, after conferring with the minister
plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bolivia, to accept the offered
mediation solely in deference to the Government of the United
States, and notwithstanding that the motives of the war declared by
Chili, which took Peru by surprise, and the manner in which it has
been conducted from the first had convinced us how far Chili was
from the path of moderation and justice, the sole path in which
peace is possible, as I had the honor to say to you in a verbal
conference on this business.
The acts which the Chilian forces have, notwithstanding, done at more
than 100 leagues from our army, and from any objective military
point, acts of pillage, incendiarism, devastation, and all manner of
outrages against private property of natives and foreigners,
especially after having accepted the mediation of the government of
your excellency, if not compatible with the consideration which is
due to the friendly mediator, cannot but confirm that presumption,
awakening a spirit of indignation difficult to control. My
government confines itself to expressing that sentiment, leaving to
that of your excellency and to your excellency yourself the due
appreciation of such conduct. My government thinks that if the love
of peace and the consideration which it feels for the government and
people of the United States can decide it, notwithstanding the
evident justice of its cause and its complete confidence in the
final result of the war, and the injuries and losses sustained, to
enter upon negotiations for peace, it is natural that such motives
should be entirely destroyed by the actual and melancholy evidence
that we are contending with those who in such manner violate the
laws of civilization and the respect which cultured people owe to
themselves.
It is pleasing to me to avail myself of this opportunity to offer to
your excellency my considerations of especial esteem.
[Inclosure No.
4.—Translation.]
Mr. Christiancy
to the commander of the Chilian
forces.
Legation of the United States,
Lima, Peru, September 13, 1880.
Sir: I have just arrived from Santiago,
where, in company with the American minister, Mr. Osborn, I had a
full and free conference with the Government of Chili, which has
accepted the mediation of the United States, in order to negotiate
peace with Peru and Bolivia, I am now authorized to say that Peru
accepts such mediation, and that the negotiations for peace will be
immediately undertaken. When I conferred with the Government of
Chili I was not authorized to say that Peru would accept the
mediation of the United States, but now I am authorized to say that
Peru accepts it and that the ambassadors of all the belligerents
will meet for this purpose in the early days of the coming month of
October.
I do not interfere, nor can I pretend to interfere, with the
instructions which you [Page 159] may
have from your government concerning the steps which you have been
ordered to take, but I hope that you will appreciate my
representations, and those of the government which I represent,
which is equally the friend of all the belligerents, if I suggest to
you that, in so far as your orders permit, it would be prudent and
would contribute to obtain a speedy peace and avoid all destruction
and causes of irritation which may not be rendered obligatory by the
orders you have; and I permit myself to add that there is a very
marked sentiment, as I know, among the ministers of the foreign
governments, both here and in Santiago, against the destruction of
purely private property which is not demanded by the military
necessity of attacking the armed forces of the enemy and against
accepting contributions from them, and especially because such
destructions may be committed or such contributions imposed upon the
private property which is known to belong to the citizens of
friendly and neutral nations, and from which proceedings, as you
will readily comprehend, may arise many complications and
complaints. The government of Chili will be immediately informed
that Peru has accepted the friendly mediation of the United States,
and of its readiness to enter upon negotiation upon such
auspices.
If I had been able, when I was in Santiago, to assure the Government
of Chili of the readiness of Peru to enter upon negotiations in
which Chili should take part, I would feel inclined to believe that
if the Chilian expedition had been about to depart it would have
been under orders somewhat modified and less severe than those which
you now probably have, but I cannot ask you to adopt my opinion, and
recognize entirely the fact that you must act in view of your own
judgment of the circumstances and as the orders of your government
demand.
Permit me to conclude by expressing to your excellency the respect
and high consideration with which I subscribe myself your
excellency’s friend and obedient servant,
[Inclosure No.
5.—Translation.]
Mr. Lynch to
Mr. Christiancy.
Headquarters of the Chilian Division in the North of
Peru,
On board the
Itata, September 17,
1880.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your
polite notes of the 13th and 14th instant, in which your excellency
is pleased to bring to my knowledge the laudable efforts which have
been made towards the belligerent governments for the purpose of
bringing about an honorable peace between them, through the medium
of the mediation of the Government of the United States, of which
your excellency is the worthy representative at Lima.
Your excellency, in making known to me what has been done to that
end, and what is hoped for from the good offices (of the United
States) has been pleased to indicate to me the conduct, which, in
your judgment, I should follow in the military operations which my
government has confided to me, in view of the good will with which
the belligerent governments have accepted the mediation of that of
your excellency.
It would have been very gratifying to me, Mr. Minister, to accept
your manner of thinking if I had not been informed to-day by the
commanding officer of our squadron, that the Government of Peru is
continuing its operations against the vessels of the Chilian
navy.
The repetition of such insidious attempts on the part of that
government, at the time when your excellency assures me of the
desire it expresses to negotiate for peace, convinces me that its
purpose is not genuine.
For this reason I see no well-founded motive for suspending the
military operations which have been confided to me in the absence of
a special instruction from my government.
So far as concerns respect for the property of neutrals, which your
excellency is pleased to recommend to me in the notes, which I have
the honor to answer, your excellency may rest assured that I will
proceed in conformity with the prescriptions of international
law.
In conclusion, I beg your excellency to accept the high esteem with
which I subscribe myself your obedient servant,