No. 256.
Mr. Fish to Mr. De
Long.
Washington, March 21, 1873.
Sir: Referring to my No. 175, I have now to say that the minister of Peru informed me yesterday that the special envoys from Peru to Japan therein referred to have arrived at their post and have been hospitably received by the Mikado and his ministers.
Colonel Freyre said that he was instructed by his government to say that it hoped that the United States would exert not only their moral influence but their good offices to bring about an amicable settlement of the affair of the Maria Luz, in which the government of Peru regarded that the flag of Peru had been insulted, and that the honor of the nation was affected. I replied that the people of the United States regarded the coolie trade with a very strong aversion, and that the Government, sharing the feeling, could do nothing which could be construed as approving it.
He said that in the case of the Maria Luz the laborers had been engaged by careful and responsible agents of Peru at Macao, and that the contracts were honest contracts. In proof of this he stated that each laborer cost over three hundred dollars before he was landed in Peru.
I consented to authorize the good offices of this Government to effect an amicable settlement of the question and to prevent a rupture, upon the condition respecting the coolie trade which had been insisted upon, and Colonel Freyre reiterated the wish of his government to have the good offices made available on those terms, and requested me to write immediately in order to catch the steamer leaving San Francisco on the first proximo.
I have therefore to instruct you that you are authorized to use the good offices of this Government for the settlement of the differences which have unhappily arisen between Japan and Peru. Before doing this officially, you will endeavor unofficially to ascertain whether it will be acceptable to Japan to receive the tender in the spirit in which we desire to proffer it, and whether there is a practicable middle ground on which the acts of Japan and the complaints of Peru can find common foothold and satisfaction. If you become satisfied that the good offices of the United States either will not be acceptable to Japan, or will not prevent a rupture, you will not tender them formally; but you will let both parties understand that we are ready to tender them whenever we can see that they will do any good.
Should you, on the contrary, be satisfied that both parties desire to avail themselves of our good offices, and that amicable relations may be restored through our efforts, you will say that the President, influenced by his strong desire to restore friendly relations and feelings between the two powers, with each of whom the United States are in such relations of entire amity and cordial friendship, has instructed you to tender the good offices of the United States for that purpose.
Whatever may take place you will avoid expressing anything but disapprobation of the coolie trade.
I am, &c.,