Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1881
No. 569.
Mr. Hurlbut to Mr. Blaine.
Sir: After I had closed and sealed up my official mail I received from Mr. Quimper the inclosed letter and two copies of his History of Events, to be forwarded to you. Mr. Quimper is one of the strongest intellects and best-known men in Peru, and you may rely upon his statements. I have not time to translate his letter, but Mr. Elmore will do it for you.
I have read it hastily, and concur with him in his statement.
I can hardly expect you to read his pamphlet, although it is worth reading.
In great haste,
Mr. Quimper to Mr. Blaine.
Esteemed Sir: Although I have no special claim upon your attention, the fact of my being an American and a citizen of Peru induces me to take up my pen in order to describe the condition of affairs in Peru, and I trust that you will kindly read what I have to say.
General Hurlbut’s arrival at Lima, with instructions from the American Government, to endeavor by every means in his power to effect the conclusion of an honorable peace between Chili and Peru, has led the nation to hope for a speedy and safe termination of the present unfortunate and anomalous state of things.
I do not propose to make any inquiries as to the policy which the enlightened government of the Union proposes to pursue. I simply propose to lay before you a sketch [Page 932] of the present situation of affairs in Peru, together with a brief statement of the causes which have led to that situation.
Before the war Chili had no claim whatever upon Peru, inasmuch as the two countries did not border upon each other,* and as Peru had given no cause of complaint to Chili. As long ago as 1872 Peru made a treaty of alliance with Bolivia, but it never took effect, although several of the cases therein provided for arose. In the mean time an unimportant question between Chili and Bolivia led the former to occupy the Bolivian territory of Autofagasta. Peru then appeared as mediator. She did so with perfect propriety at that time, since the treaty had become inoperative and the casus fœderis had not yet been declared.
The Peruvian minister at Santiago was busy with the subject of the mediation when Chili suddenly declared war against Peru.
This declaration of war was made at a time when our minister to Bolivia had, in pursuance of instructions from the Government of Peru, induced that nation to repeal the “ten-cent law,” which was the cause of the war between Chili and Bolivia.
Peru, being completely defenseless, was taken entirely by surprise, and was obliged to put forth her utmost efforts to avoid being crushed at once. Her navy was in a wretched condition and greatly inferior to that of Chili, but was put on a war-footing at once. Her army, which consisted of but 3,000 wretchedly armed men, was sent to protect the southern frontier.
The history of this war and the true cause of our disasters are given in the statement which I have prepared, and which I inclose herewith, begging you to read it, or to have it read by some person in whom you have confidence. You will thereby become convinced that the victories of Chili were easily won without earning any real glory for the Chilian arms.
Chili entered the contest fully prepared, while Peru was taken wholly at a disadvantage, and was consequently obliged to succumb.
The internal situation of Peru is as follows: The constitutional Government of Peru was preparing to collect war material for the purpose of conquering Chili, when Col. Nicolas Piérola, of the National Guard, formerly a conspirator, got up his revolution of December 21, 1879, whereby he destroyed all the institutions of the country and proclaimed himself dictator. The army initiated the movement, and was seconded by the people, who believed in the promise of victory which Piérola made, provided he were only invested with discretionary powers.
Sad is the history of that administration of one year, during which the so-called dictator plunged the country into disaster of every kind, thus facilitating the definitive triumph of Chili at Chorillos and Miraflores.
The dictatorship, which was proclaimed de facto on the 21st of December, 1879, succumbed de facto on the 15th of January, 1881.
Piérola then became a fugitive in the interior of Peru, not having saved a single weapon during the disasters of January, although he might have done so, and the Chilian authorities in this capital, after they had occupied it, declared their unalterable determination to make no treaty of peace with him, though they expressed their readiness to do so with the constitutional government, which they considered the legitimate representative of the country.
In order, therefore, to secure peace, which was earnestly desired by the entire people of Peru, a provincial constitutional government was organized at Lima, with Mr. Garcia Calderon as President, who immediately convened the lawful Congress, that it might adopt suitable measures.
Congress met, and after ratifying the powers of Mr. Garcia Calderon, authorized him to conclude a peace with Chili.
In the mean time events have occurred in Peru, both in connection with its internal affairs and its relations with Chili, which have given an irregular aspect to the present situation.
The departments of Lima, Callao, Huanaco, Junin, Liberotad, Anacachs, Lambayeque, Amazonas, and many provinces belonging to others, have spontaneously recognized the government of Garcia Calderon, their principal citizens signing a declaration to that effect. Piérola’s authorities, however, and the scanty forces still under his command, have brought the greater part of the aforesaid departments once more under the control of the dictator. The consequence is, that Mr. Garcia Calderon’s provincial government exercises its authorities in but few of them.
This fact is not difficult of explanation. The warlike attitude that is still maintained by Peru towards Chili and the conduct of the Chilian army of occupation tend to sustain the bogus government of Piérola.
Yet it is absolutely certain that as soon as Chili shall have concluded an honorable treaty of peace with Mr. Garcia Calderon, all of Piérola’s officers, together with the men under their commands, will recognize such treaty and the constitutional government.
[Page 933]The conduct of the Chilian authorities may be explained as follows:
The Chilians consented at Lima to the formation of the provisional government, because that course coincided with the determination which they had announced not to treat with Piérola. As soon, however, as they became convinced that the provisional government refused to admit that they had conquered Peru they began to oppose it openly, and to encourage Piérola, with a view to keeping Peru in a state of anarchy, so that they might be able to occupy the Peruvian coast indefinitely, availing themselves meanwhile of the country’s resources, on the pretext that there was no actual government with which they could treat.
The Chilian authorities have always pursued a course calculated to prolong a state of anarchy in Peru. When they thought that Piérola’s power was increasing they sent an expedition against him, and when they thought that the same was the case with the government of Mr. Garcia Calderon they did everything in their power to bring it into discredit and to increase the importance of Piérola.
Negotiations have recently been set on foot between Mr. Garcia Calderon and Mr. Godoy, the Chilian plenipotentiary, the object of which is the explicit recognition of the provisional government by Chili.
Nevertheless, Mr. Godoy has said that if the provisional government wished to be expressly recognized it must first settle the terms of peace with him.
There have been four conferences between the Chilian plenipotentiary and Mr. Garcia Calderon, and while the former was still saying that he was willing to continue them, he suddenly, without having given any warning, left for Chili.
This fact is explained, and, I think, correctly, by the knowledge which it is supposed that Mr. Godoy had of the mission intrusted to General Hurlbut. He went to Chili, he said, for the purpose of getting precise instructions for all cases that might arise.
The fact is, that when Mr. Godoy took his departure he left the negotiations suspended, and all prospects of peace at a standstill.
Such is the present condition of things. We shall be in a state of suspense until the return of the Chilian plenipotentiary.
Chili says that there is no government in Peru with which she can treat.
This is not true. The government of Mr. Garcia Calderon is one which fulfills all conditions of legitimacy, and its acts, so far as the conclusion of a peace is concerned, would be immediately accepted by the entire republic.
If it is not recognized by the considerable armed forces which apparently obey Piérola, this is because the proper time for such recognition has not yet arrived.
And it is not well that such recognition should take place, for if it should, the Chilian army would treat those forces as it has just done those of Magdalena, viz, disarm and disperse them; and since it would then consider the government of Mr. Garcia Calderon as a war government it would not be in the power of the latter to continue negotiations.
Given, then, the conditions of life now possessed by Mr. Garcia Calderon’s government, it cannot and ought not to increase in power. It should make peace while in its present condition, and such a peace, as I have already remarked, would be accepted by the whole nation.
Peru will be mainly indebted for this great benefit, in any event, to the people and the enlightened government of the United States.
Accept, sir, the assurances of the regard of your faithful and obedient servant,
- Correct, although otherwise represented on many maps.↩