No. 67.
Mr. Martinez to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency of the latest news received by this legation through the Pacific mail.

The fact that Rear-Admiral Montero has deserted from the ranks of his former chief, the dictator Piérola, is fully confirmed. Montero has accepted the vice-presidency of Peru, which was offered to him by several gentlemen of Lima, called notables. He needed no other investment to call himself the “constitutional president.”

As this expression has been lately used in a very extraordinary sense, so that many of the journals of the United States have unconciously made use of it, I deem it necessary to acquaint your excellency with its meaning.

The last constitutional president of Peru, that is to say, elected by the people according to the constitution, was General Mariano Ygnacio Prado, whose term came to an end long ago. Those who have succeeded him in exercising the supreme power have been as constitutional as the emperors of the lower empire who had themselves proclaimed by their troops. They are called constitutional presidents, because, after having irregularly assumed the supreme power, they enforce one of the many constitutions which Peru has given to herself since its independence.

As your excellency can easily perceive, that is an abuse of the term which tends to pervert every idea of regular government.

Not withstanding this, Mr. Hurlbut gave to the provisional government of Garcia Calderon the name of constitutional, and revolutionary to that of Piérola.

These pernicious errors ought to give way to a correct and suitable knowledge of persons and things.

Montero issued at Cajamarca, a town situated in the northern mountains [Page 112] of Peru, a circular under the date of 28th of October, 1881, addressed to the governors, stating that he was armed against the invaders, and that he hoped to effect a happy solution of the pending questions by virtue of the effective mediation of the United States Government.

The same chief circulated extensively the strangest document to which it is possible to refer in the history of diplomacy. This was a letter or manifest addressed by General Hurlbut to the so-called notables of Lima, which your excellency is acquainted with, but a copy of which is herewith inclosed.

The same Mr. Montero wrote to his former chief under date of November 22,1881, a letter explaining to him the grounds of his desertion.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nicholas Piérola gave up his nominal position, by issuing a decree and a proclamation under the date of November 28, 1881.

According to the latest news, the troops under Montero do not amount to more than 1,500 or 1,600 men, poorly armed and equipped.

As your excellency can see, that is but a sad comedy.

The so-called provisional president, Señor Francisco Garcia Calderon, is at present in the town of Quillota, in the province of Valparaiso, Chili.

Caceres, the chief of the Monteneros, is in Chosica, a short distance from Lima. He has not declared himself in any way, and we have every reason to believe that he will act on his own account and at his own risk, and will presently recognize the proclamation made to him by his own army, which does not exceed three thousand or three thousand five hundred men. The existence of this leader is virtually dependent on the will of the Chilian general-in-chief, who can annihilate him whenever he chooses to attack him.

As regards Mr. Piérola, he is at present in Lima, the report of his having sailed for Europe having proved incorrect He is living tranquilly, as a private citizen, under the security afforded by the protection of the Chilian army of occupation.

It is clearly evident that whenever the Chilian army shall abandon the Peruvian capital anarchy will begin its disastrous work, and for this the Peruvians alone are responsible.

My government had an army in readiness to proceed to Arequipa, in order to clear the situation, and thus facilitate the securing of peace; but it has lately desisted from this purpose because it felt that the purely local results to be secured would not correspond to the sacrifices which a new campaign involved.

An expedition, however, is ready to march to Janja, and will put an end to its occupation by Cáceres. This will only leave Rear-Admiral Montero in the north of Peru. He is without prestige, without arms, without resources, and with no other territory over which to exercise his authority than that on which he treads.

If the sensible people still remaining in Peru do not see that the time has arrived to accept the conditions which Chili, with perfect justice, demands, they will bring upon their country all the consequences of that obstinate and incomprehensible resistance. I do not believe that there is in the history of the world an instance of a country which, being so impotent to defend itself, showed itself so blindly stubborn nduring the laws.of war. Everything which in any way tends to strengthen that resistance is, and will be, contrary to the principles which govern human affairs.

General Lynch, seeing that all the branches of municipal revenues [Page 113] were in complete disorder and that their management was irregular, ordered the appointment of a supervisor, a measure which degraded the municipals, who, in consequence, threatened to resign their posts. The journals have indeed published the fact that the alcalde Canevaro, and other municipals, had resigned, but we are not aware that such is the case.

The Bolivian general, Campero, is at the head of a small army, and threatens to invade Tarapacá, but I assure your excellency, with an assurance based upon many and incontestable reasons, that that threat cannot possibly be realized. There is not the remotest fear that a drop of blood will be shed on that side.

With sentiments of the highest consideration,

M. MARTINEZ.
[Translation of inclosure with Mr. Martinez’s note of January 10, 1882.]

The following communication has been addressed by the North American minister to the notables of Lima:

Gentlemen: At your request I make the following declarations:

1.
The United States of America are strongly in favor of the cessation of hostilities between Chili and Peru, and the speedy restoration of peace.
2.
They are decidedly opposed to any dismemberment of the territory of Peru, except with the free and full consent of this nation.
3.
They are of the opinion that Chili, as the result of the war, has acquired the right of indemnification for the expenses of the war, and that Peru cannot refuse its payment.

The Government of Chili knows that these are the views of the United States, but the divisions which exist in Peru paralyze the good effects (offices?) of the United States and afford a pretext to Chili for eluding action by the latter in conformity with our desires, and for prolonging the state of war and the military occupation of Peru. Chili says: “We also desire peace, but there is here no one competent to treat to that end.” This statement is unfortunately true. For such a condition of affairs, the only remedy is to be found in Peru itself. Union under whomsoever may be chosen will dispel the pretext of Chili, and will give to the United States an advantage which they need, and of which they will be able to take advantage. Nothing else, in my judgment, will save Peru from indefinite military occupation by Chili. Peru must herself effect her own salvation through the sacrifice of personal conditions (ambitions?) on the altar of the country’s redemption.

I am, &c.,

S. A. HURLBUT.

A copy.

The secretary of legation.

F. PINTO.