Minister Combs to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Lima,
Peru, August 1,
1910.
No. 382.]Sir: I have the honor to report that the
President has as yet been unable to form a satisfactory new cabinet.
I inclose a copy, with translation, of that part of the President’s
message treating of the mediation.
The political situation is less complex and threatening than it was a
week ago.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure—Translation.]
Message of the President of Peru, July 28,
1910.
extract.
It was under these circumstances that the offer of mediation was made
by the Governments of the Argentine Republic, Brazil, and the United
States. This event of exceptional importance postponed the
possibility of a conflict. Both Governments accepted, and the
situation and the eventualities contemplated in the offer were left
to the mediators, who began, and who are actually performing, their
noble task with a firm resolution, inspired by a feeling of justice
which merits the deepest respect. I myself at this time interpret
the opinion of Peru in publicly reiterating our gratitude for the
high motives which impelled them to serve. These motives lead to the
maintenance of peace, which should not be perturbed owing to the
anticipations of an arbitration solemnly entered into, and mean the
realization of an ideal of solidarity based upon justice.* * * Our
confidence in the mediators is absolute. Apart from the object which
they pursue, the proper prestige of the respectable Governments
which are taking part in the affair, the precedent that they are
going to establish, and the knowledge that has been acquired of the
matter in question should be considered. It is on this account that
we have watched with sympathy, and without any misgiving, the steps
followed by the mediation up to the present time, and we bowed
without any reservation and with the greatest of deference to the
indications which they (the mediators) made to us to withdraw our
forces from the frontier and to reduce their number to a peace
footing. This last measure is proof of the security which the
mediators entertain respecting the success of their negotiations, a
security which no obstacle has been able to upset. * * * This
firmness is understood owing to the conviction of the three
Governments of the invincible moral force which they exercise in
having adopted, as the foundation of their action, impartiality and
the necessity for establishing an American tradition of respect for
order, for right, and for the considerations for which nations
mutually owe to each other. Therefore, it is not venturesome to
anticipate from now on that the result of the mediation will be
successful and that the actual state of peace will be permanent in
the future, as a consequence of the force of example having been
preferred to weight of power. * * * In the protocol proposed at
Washington on the 13th of the present month the future course of the
mediation is explained in harmony with its bases, indicating the
necessary guaranty for its execution.
