No. 276.
Mr. Phelps
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Lima, Peru, January 23, 1884. (Received February 26.)
Sir: Having occasion for an interview with Mr. Larrabure, minister of foreign relations of General Iglesias’ Government, concerning certain decrees affecting the railway interests of certain Americans, resident and non-resident, the minister seized the occasion to speak about the recognition of the Government by the United States. He said it appeared to him perfectly clear that it is the Government de facto of Peru, being supreme over a large part of the territory; that a dispatch from the British Government indicated satisfaction with the existing condition of the Government of General Iglesias, and that it would be recognized on the assembling of the national assembly; that he thought it strange that the United States should, being an elder brother in the family of republics, [Page 405] abstain from recognition until the example had been set by England and European nations. I said to him, your remarks call for a very frank reply; that the President, in his message to our Congress, had denned the conditions on which his recognition would depend, and that, as yet, it did not appear that the people of Peru had very generally recognized Mr. Iglesias; that it had been hoped that the people of Cuzco, and of other central and southern provinces and departments, would spontaneously proclaim this Government; that Cuzco, after two months, had finally received a prefect, as there was reason to believe, only because of fear of visitation by the Chilian troops camped about Arequipa and Puno; that Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Apurimac, and other departments and provinces had not yet submitted to General Iglesias; that Chilian forces perfectly dominated Puno, Arequipa, Moquegua, Lima and Callao, and Junin, being encamped near at hand, and in the latter were actually engaged in hostilities; that Caxamarca in the north, General Iglesias’ home, is actually in possession of Puga, who, although reported as routed, it was now known had defeated the Government forces under command of General Iglesias’ brother, sent against him; that Caceres, whose strength as against the Government is great, had refused to submit, and, in short, that the feeling generally existed amongst Peruvians that General Iglesias is maintained by the presence of the Chilian soldiery about the great center of the country. That I had great desire to view the matter otherwise must be apparent to him, because, apart from the disagreeable feature of incomplete official relations, I appreciated the courage and patriotism that had been so conspicuous in the course which the general had adopted in treating for peace, and which captured alike our sympathies and respect.
I shall seek an occasion for a more full conversation with him, and may think it advisable to report by telegraph.
There is little doubt that recognition would give prestige to the Government in the view of its own people and remove some, if not many, of its difficulties. In common with the opinion of most Peruvians and of all resident foreigners, I cannot consider the power of General Iglesias sufficient to sustain him after the departure of the Chilian army.
An editorial, cut from the Commercio of this morning, the most able paper in Peru, touches upon some of the points referred to in the communication, and I inclosed it without translation, being unable to make one in time for this steamer. You will observe that it opens with reference to the incomplete character of the late elections, because of the opposing chiefs in the northern and central provinces, and is adverse to the proposition to await the assembling of the Congress until those chiefs could be put down. It presents a picture of the condition of Peru very disheartening. The idea has at times pressed upon me that it might be a judicious and humane action on the part of the United States to lend the support of their recognition to General Iglesias, but I am confronted now with statements that not one-fifth of the population has taken part in the election of deputies to the Congress, and that there cannot be said to have been a contest, except in a limited sense, between the Pierolistes and the Government candidates. A few of the civilistes have taken part, and here the names of some have been used as candidates against their published remonstrance. Little interest has been evinced in Lima, and the proportion of men voting is variously estimated at one-fourth to one-seventh of the voting population. The attitude of the people is in some sense one of protest against the Government as well as the peace, while all alike are intensely anxious for peace.
I have, &c.,