Office of the Historian

No. 561.
Mr. Christiancy to Mr. Blaine.

Legation of the United States,
Lima, Peru, June 28, 1881. (Received July 18.)
No. 322.]

Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 320, I have now the honor further to say that I have been carefully considering the question of the recognition of the provisional government therein referred to, and having received nothing by the last mail in any way modifying your dispatch No. 143, and knowing that I had kept you fully informed of all the facts necessary to a decision, and seeing that the question whether the Calderon government was a government de facto was not expressly made a condition, and that the fact of your having already received Mr. Elmore as the confidential agent of that government, which I take to be a clear indication that you would expect me to recognize that government if I found the facts you had stated as hypothetical to be true, but more especially hearing a rumor here as having come from the United States that my successor would not come here until peace was settled, and, therefore, fearing that my neglect to make the requisition might be construed as a design on my part to delay his coming, I finally concluded, on the 26th instant, to recognize the provisional government as such, and I here inclose copy of my letter to Mr. Galvez, minister of foreign affairs, making the recognition.

I must confess that, if left to act entirely on my own judgment, I should not have recognized this provisional government until it should have become a government de facto, or until it should have succeeded in assembling a quorum of Congress, nor until we could have seen whether this Congress or that of Piérola (national assembly) at Ayacucho should represent the most of the people of Peru. But I claim no right to set up my own judgment against that of my government, believing strict obedience to the wishes of my government my first and sole duty.

In making the recognition, I have thought it best to place it on the precise grounds indicated by your instructions, believing that it would have a better effect in aiding this incipient government by a clear intimation that our government was more inclined to encourage constitutional than dictatorial government, and that they wished to aid in restoring peace between these belligerent republics.

I have, &c.,

I. P. CHRISTIANCY.
[Page 920]
[Inclosure in No. 322.]

Mr. Christiancy to Señor Galvez.

Legation of the United States,
Lima, Peru, June 26, 1881.

Monsieur le Ministre: My government, having been informed of the organization at Magdalena of what, in your circular note to me of April 30 last, is styled a provisional government under the presidency of Señor Doctor Don Francisco Garcia Calderon, has given me instructions, in substance, that if I find, 1st, that such provisional government is supported by the weight of character and influence of Peru; 2d, that it is endeavoring to restore constitutional government, with a view both to internal order and negotiations with Chili for peace, then I am to recognize it as a provisional government.

Believing, from the best evidence I can obtain, that each of these hypothetical propositions is sufficiently established in the affirmative, I therefore formally express such recognition on the part of the Government of the United States.

Please accept the assurance, &c.,

I. P. CHRISTIANCY.