No. 41.
Mr. Logan
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Santiago, January 20, 1883.
(Received February 27.)
No. 54.]Sir: Under cover of my dispatch No. 35 1 inclosed
the copy of a personal note addressed by me to Vice-President Montero. The
object of the note, as heretofore stated, was twofold: firstly, to place
within his knowledge the facts of the situation, as viewed from my
standpoint; and, secondly, to obtain an authoritative statement of his
adhesion to Calderon, with which to refute the position of the Chilian
Government that Calderon had been disavowed by his own following.
Under cover of this dispatch, I inclose a translation of the reply of that
gentleman, which I have no doubt will interest you as it has me.
Señor Montero states most emphatically that he; is only charged with the
executive power during the absence of the provisional President, Señor
Calderon; that the terms of peace which the latter may agree upon will be
accepted by the former; that the Peruvians are unified under the provisional
Government, and you will not fail to notice a most important admission of
the letter, viz, that Señor Calderon has the right to make a preliminary
treaty for after-submission to the Congress. * * * The letter is personally
gratifying to your representative as conveying a grateful recognition of his
services.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No.
54.—Translation.]
General Montero to
Mr. Logan.
President’s Office, Republic of Peru,
Arequipa, December 21, 1882.
Sir: By the mail which arrived to-day from
Bolivia, I have had the honor to receive your interesting communication
dated’ in Santiago, the 13th of November last, in
[Page 90]
which you are pleased to put in my knowledge the
terms upon which the Government of Chili is disposed to make peace with
Peru, as a result of your mediation, which has induced the abandonment
of the exigent terms of the Trescot protocol.
The bases which you communicate to me are these: “First, absolute cession
of Tarapaca, as an indemnity of war, Chili paying all the debts of the
province legitimately following it, in conformity with the provisions of
international law, although she refuses to make any particular
stipulation in this respect in the treaty, as having already committed
herself to it by various public declarations, she does not deem it
necessary; second, the acquisition of Tacna and Arica by purchase, for
the sum of 410,000,000 to be paid in three equal annual
installments.”
You have full knowledge that his excellency Señor Francisco Garcia
Calderon is the provisional President of Peru, and that the undersigned
only assumed the supreme command in his quality of Vice-President of the
Republic, in consequence of the imprisonment and banishment of the
President. Therefore the most natural and expeditious course in my view,
would be the discussion of the bases of peace with Señor Calderon, a
prisoner in Santiago, and if he rinds them acceptable, he can be
restored to his country, when he will resume immediately the exercise of
the supreme power. The Republic is unified under the authority of the
provisional government, and this latter will not encounter difficulties
in the internal policy. The Congress convened for the 15th of March
next, far from signifying the cessation of the authority of Señor
Calderon, will facilitate the resolution of the pending questions,
because the treaty which he celebrates can be submitted to it.
The foregoing considerations absolve me from emitting an opinion upon the
bases and observations which you express in your important letter.
I take pleasure in expressing to you my acknowledgment of your
persevering efforts in favor of peace, and for the good will which in
your personal and official character you are pleased to manifest to me
for the best arrangement of the Pacific controversy.
I am, &c.,
