No. 570.
Mr. Hulburt to Mr. Blaine.
Lima, Peru, September 21, 1881. (Received October 17.)
Sir: Since my last dispatch there has been nothing of any special consequence. I am still without any reply from General Kilpatrick to my communications, which is probably due to the severe illness with which he has been afflicted.
It appears to be of vital importance that the United States should determine, in advance, the position which they will hold in relation to the procurement of peace and the settlement of the questions between Peru and Chili.
[Page 934]I hope by the next steamer, or at all events by that which will arrive on October 1, to have some definite communication from you.
I believe that Chili will make the cession of Tarapacá a sine qua non of peace, and that on this point they will not admit of discussion, unless under pressure from some other power than Peru.
If the United States are disposed and ready to insist that Peru shall have the opportunity to offer a money indemnity, and thus escape cession of territory, I am satisfied that such insistance on our part should pass directly from the Secretary of State to the Chilian minister at Washington, and thus come with the highest authority.
If, however, the Department of State is not willing or prepared to take this step, I cannot see how I can exercise any wholesome influence upon the stronger of the two belligerents.
The governments both of Chili and Peru have undoubtedly been informed that the United States would view with serious disfavor any request for, or acceptance of, aid from any European government in this matter of American policy.
I know that Peru fully understands this, and I presume General Kilpatrick has communicated to Chili the views expressed in your instructions to him.
Being thus imperatively cut off from European aid, and practically limited by the act of the United States to the friendly offices of our government only, it would seem that a duty was, by its own acts, imposed upon the United States, to render effective and positive aid to the solution of this question.
Valmacida, minister of foreign affairs of Chili, said lately in a speech in their Congress, “that Chili must soon determine for herself whether she should return to her ancient boundaries or extend herself over half the continent.”
It is not, in my judgment, for the interest of the Uinted States that there should be any very largely preponderating power in South America, and still less so, if that preponderance shall be acquired, not by regular growth and development, but by violent and military means.
Yet at this very time there is danger of just such preponderance, obtained by just such means, and the only preventive I can see for this evil is the direct and specific action of the United States.
There is danger, even now, that the treaty between Chili and the Argentine Republic may fail of ratification, in which case war between these republics appears inevitable, especially as the Argentines look with great apprehension upon the military and naval development of Chili as a perpetual threat to them.
The Argentine Republic is now ready for war, and if they believe it to be imminent in the near future, they will of course prosecute it, while Chili is embarrassed by Peru and Bolivia.
Thus it is possible that the future peace and good order of South America may hinge upon the determination to be taken by the United States, in reference to the proper conclusion of the Peru-Chilian affair.
It is a noticeable fact that the Chilian Government has asked from their Congress appropriations for an army of 24,000 men, and a full war establishment for their navy, for the coming year, indicating that they propose to continue the state of things which makes such expenditure necessary.
This force is a very heavy one for Chili to keep up, and is sufficient for active war operations, and excessive for what remains to be done in Peru. It is therefore considered by the Argentines to be in the line of a menace to that country.
[Page 935]In the internal affairs of Peru, there is as yet no special development, except that I believe the dissension from Piérola in the interior, and the tendency to support Calderon, to be on the increase.
I was in hopes to have received the message of President Santa Maria, in time for this mail, but it has not come, and as I have no communications from General Kilpatrick, I am quite in the dark, officially, as to the course of events in Santiago, and even as to the fact whether my colleague there is in harmony with my views.
Reports are very current that he is not, but you will of course be advised of his actions and his purposes. I have, &c.,