No. 34.
Mr. Trescot
to Mr. J. G. Blaine.
Special
Mission of the United States,
Panama,
United States of Colombia
,
December 12, 1881. (Received December
27.)
No. 1.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you of our arrival
at this place. Leaving Aspinwall yesterday by special train, we reached
Panama in the afternoon, and went at once on board of the Lackawanna, which
will be ready to go to sea to-morrow morning.
It is scarcely necessary, but it only seems proper to say that we were
received by Captain Wilson with cordiality, and every possible preparation
has been made for our comfort.
There is of course no information of interest in connection with the objects
of the mission to communicate from this point. The rumors of occurrences in
Peru are almost as vague and contradictory here as at home, and all that we
have heard goes to show a continued condition of uncertainty as to whether
there is any government in Peru.
I inclose the latest issue of the Daily Star and Herald, containing [Page 55] the proclamation of what would seem
to be a sort of provincial dictatorship by General Carceres, and both in
Spanish and English a communication by Mr. Hurlbut to the notables of Lima,
whoever they may be. All accounts seem to agree that Pierola has abandoned
his claims to executive power, and the last report is that he has left the
country.
I beg to call to your attention that the mail contained no communication
either to General Hurlbut, General Kilpatrick, or Mr. Adams, instructing
them as to the purpose or authority of the special mission. For reasons
which are obvious I do not desire to submit to them my own instructions, and
there may be some embarrassment should they, in the absence of instructions,
decline to recognize the transfer of the negotiations to the special
mission.
I know that such instructions were prepared, and I am confident that they
were signed and ready for transmission. If they have been intentionally
withheld I feel very sure that I would have been so informed, and I hope
that you will agree in the conclusion to which I have come, that it is my
duty to act as if they had been sent, and, if necessary, to furnish these
gentlemen with copies of such portions of my own instructions as specify the
duties and the extent of the authority confided to me.
Referring also to your verbal instructions, that I should take charge of the
invitations to the Governments of Chili, Peru, and Bolivia to be represented
at the proposed congress in Washington, and deliver them to the respective
governments at such time as the circumstances of the anticipated negotiation
seemed to render most opportune, I beg to inform you that the mail contains
no such communications, and it will occur to you without suggestion from me
that if at some later date these invitations are transmitted to the
ministers at Lima, Santiago, and La Paz, they should be instructed not to
present them without my knowledge and approval.
Their delivery might, under circumstances by no means improbable, cause very
serious embarrassment in the conduct of the special mission with which I
have been charged. A reference to my instructions will, I think,
sufficiently explain my meaning.
I consider this so important that I have deemed it proper to telegraph you
the fact that these instructions have not been sent, in order that by the
next mail I may know whether they have been intentionally kept back, or
that, in case of accidental omission, they may be supplied.
I have the honor, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 1.]
Proclamation of the superior, political, and
military chief of the central departments, to the people and the
army of his district.
The self-sacrificing army of the center, which has been unable to view
with indifference the political movement made by those of the south and
of the north, has just joined in that undertaking, and declared
unanimously and spontaneously, its determination no longer to
acknowledge the authority of Dr. Nicholas de Piérola. It has, moreover,
proclaimed me as the Chief Magistrate of the nation, charging me to
carry out its views, by prosecuting the war until a peace is concluded
with the enemy which will guarantee the honor and the autonomy of the
nation.
This declaration, which has been inspired by a feeling of the loftiest
patriotism, seeks the accomplishment of no purpose save the complete
unification of public sentiment, and the removal, with a firm and
resolute hand, of every obstacle likely to prevent so desirable a
consummation. Since the power wielded by Dr. Piérola has become an
element of discord, which causes the continuance of anarchy in the
country, to [Page 56] put it down is to
consult the great interests of our native land, and to save them, by a
united effort, from the international conflict which seriously menaces
them.
In seconding by my acquiescence the patriotic attitude of the army under
my command, I do but follow its sound advice, and encourage with the
support of my authority its laudable decision in behalf of the sacred
duties that are rendered obligatory upon it by the fate of the country,
which is condemned to suffer all the hazards of a war as bloody as it is
productive of undeserved disaster to the national arms.
As to my inauguration as President, I desire that it be sanctioned by the
sovereign vote of the people and of the central army, for although my
elevation to that high office is a great honor, and a tribute of deep
gratitude, it shall never cause me to forget the self-sacrifice with
which I have always given my services to my country, nor shall it induce
me at once to yield to the seductive temptations of power. In fact, I
shall not accept that power save under the seal of popular approval, but
shall, in the meantime, confine myself to performing the duties of a
superior, political, and military prefect of the central departments,
whose generous contributions toward the support of the army renders them
worthy of the most enthusiastic applause, and of the gratitude of the
nation at large.
Soldiers: You, who bear the severest privations in life with a
self-denial worthy of the sacred cause which you are defending, because
you know that without sacrifices it will be impossible to wash out the
stains which are upon the flag that you defend, must not forget that
faith and perseverance will triumph, perhaps at no distant day, over the
reverses of fortune to which the arms of Peru have been condemned during
the war which we are now waging, and remember that, in the midst of
adversity and danger, even more than in prosperity, you will constantly
be aided and encouraged by your general.
ANDRES A. CÁCERES.
Chosica
,
November 24,
1881.
To the Notables of Lima:
Gentlemen: At your request I make the following
declaration:
- Firstly. The United States of America are firmly in favor of
the cessation of hostilities between Chili and Peru, and the
prompt re-establishment of peace.
- Secondly. The United States of America decidedly oppose all
dismemberment of Peru, except with the free and full consent of
the nation.
- Thirdly. They are of opinion that Chili has acquired, as the
result of the war, the right to a war indemnity, and that Peru
cannot refuse such payment.
The Government of Chili knows that these are the ideas of the United
States, but the divisions which exist in Peru paralyze the good offices
of the United States, and give a pretext to Chili to elude the action of
the United States in conformity with our desires, and to prolong the
state of war and the military occupation of Peru, Chili says, “We also
desire peace, but there is no one here competent to arrange it.” This
declaration is unfortunately true. For this state of affairs, the only
remedy is to be found in Peru itself.
Union, under whosoever may be elected, will destroy the pretext of Chili;
and give to the United States an advantage which they require and of
which they will know how to take advantage. In my opinion nothing else
will save the country from an indefinite military occupation by
Chili.
Peru must save itself, by the sacrifice of personal ambitions on the
altar of the redemption of the country.
I remain, gentlemen, yours, very truly,
