No. 255.
Mr. Morton
to Mr. Blaine.
Paris, October 20, 1881. (Received November 3.)
Sir: A few days since I had the honor of a personal interview with President Grévy, to whom I communicated the subject of your dispatch No. 30, with reference to the affairs of Chili and Peru.
The President expressed himself as in entire accord with the position taken by the Government of the United States, as indicated in your dispatch and the letter addressed by General Hurlbut to the Chilian admiral, copies of the latter of which having been furnished to the President and myself by Mr. Rosas, the minister of Peru, appointed by the Calderon government.
He added that annexation by a victorious nation of the whole or a large part of the territory of the subdued nation, or even the exaction of an undue indemnity of war, was contrary to the now admitted rights of nations as well as to the interests of neutrals. That a victorious nation had the right to secure the fruits of its victories there was no [Page 432] doubt, but it had not the right to impose upon its powerless enemy burdens amounting to annihilation.
In reply to my reference to the sentiment and traditions which had so long existed in the United States in regard to what might be termed joint action with European powers, he replied that he was fully aware of the existence of such feeling, and that he could well understand its force and legitimate foundation.
As to the negotiations between Peru and Chili he said that he had made known his views to me, but with no definite intentions of doing more than extending the good offices of France if they were needed.
The United States, he further remarked, was fully competent to deal with the matter, and he was glad to see that it had realized the situation and was ready to meet the circumstances of the case, and France gave a most cordial approval to the action which had been taken by the United States.
I remarked that the United States and many other countries had already recognized the Calderon government; to which he replied that France had not yet done so, because it seemed to her that the Calderon government had rather the support of the Chilian Government than of the people of Peru; but that as soon as it appeared evident that it was national in its character France would recognize it with pleasure.
Before leaving, the President remarked to me that although our conversation was unofficial in the sense that he could do nothing in the matter without consultation with the minister of foreign affairs, the views and opinions he had expressed were those of the French Government. This statement he emphatically authorized me to make to my government.
In another conversation which I have had since the interview with Mr. Grévy referred to on the same subject, he reiterated his expression of the foregoing sentiments. I summed up the position taken by France by declaring, very explicitly that it was willing to act with or in the same direction as the United States, if the latter so desired, or to leave the Government of the United States to proceed alone if it preferred the latter course.
I have, &c.,