No. 526.
Mr. Christiancy to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Lima,
Peru
,
February 15, 1881. (Received
March 18.)
No. 240.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to you the copy of
a letter of October 5, 1880, written by Mr. Valderrama, secretary of foreign
relations, of Chili, to the French minister at Santiago, in reference to the
protection of neutral property in the contemplated expedition upon Lima and
Callao; also a translation of the same.
Also a copy and translation of a letter of Mr. Pinto (minister of Salvador),
the dean of the diplomatic corps in Lima, to the general-in-chief of the
Chilian forces, dated December 28th last.
Also a letter of General Baquedano, in reply to last above, dated December
30, 1880.
Also a letter of January 1, 1881, from Mr. Pinto, the dean of our diplomatic
corps, to General Baquedano, in reply to his last above, with
translation.
Also a copy of a letter of General Baquedano in reply to the last above,
dated January 6, 1881, with a translation.
Also a copy of a letter from General Baquedano to the dean of the diplomatic
corps, dated Chorillos, 15th January, at 11 p.m., with translation.
No. 4/240 (above) embodies the principles which I had the honor to submit to
the diplomatic corps, on the day of its date, in the shape of a simple
declaration of principles adopted by the corps, and stated in a slightly
different form in the letter.
I have included all the above that you may have a full view of the
correspondence in reference to the transactions alluded to; but the most
important of all, in reference to the numerous claims likely to be presented
against Chili by American, Swiss, and Colombian citizens, [Page 864] is the above No. 1/240. This was written
to the French minister in Chili, in answer to a letter of his, in behalf of
all neutrals here 5 and the answer No. 1/240
applies equally to all It was sent by the French
minister in Chili to his colleague here and presented to and read before our
diplomatic corps, as it was no doubt intended to be.
It will be seen it adopts the very plan of protecting neutral property which
had been already adopted by us, and this plan we continued, not only in
Lima, but in Chorillos, Miraflores, and everywhere else in Peru; and we
trusted and believed that this plan would prove effectual, and that the
neutral property, having the placards with the certificates and flag
referred to, would be respected by the Chilian forces; at least, that such
property would not be deliberately taken or destroyed without military necessity. Of course we did not expect such
protection against the risks of battle, or those naturally incident to the
taking of a town by bombardment or storm, while any resistance was kept up
in such town. But, even in such cases, we did think we had a right to rely
upon the promise of the Chilian Government, that such property should not be
deliberately taken or destroyed, after all resistance and all fighting had
ceased, and especially one, two, or three days after, when all necessity for
its taking or destruction had ceased.
Now, it clearly appears from the official report of General Baquedano, that
all fighting, even in Chorillos, had ceased, and that his victory then was
complete at 2 o’clock p.m. of the 13th of January (see extract from that
report, here inclosed, and referred to in the margin). And yet that “the
towns of Chorillos and Barranco, as a consequence of their resistance, were
destroyed and burned.” Now, the fact, as I am informed from all quarters,
is, that there was no fighting at Barranco (a village intermediate between
Chorillos and Miraflores), and that no fire of any importance occurred until
about 5 or 6 o’clock p.m. in Chorillos; that at about the hour last
mentioned, the most densely built part of the town was deliberately set on
fire by the soldiery, and every living inhabitant in the town—of whom there
were many who had remained—having been killed, most of them were piled up in
the houses and burned with them. But a large portion of the best houses in
the town, many of them owned by neutrals (some American, some Swiss, and, I
think, some Colombian, among the rest), were deliberately burned the next
day, and some of them two days after, after having been robbed of their
furniture (most of it of the most costly kind), which was sent on board the
Chilian fleet, before the torches or hand-grenades were applied to the
houses; and these very houses had upon them the flags and placards agreed
upon with the Chilian Government.
And when I state what I am on all hands informed, is the fact, though I do
not personally know it, that the house sometimes occupied by the minister of
Brazil and that of the Brazilian consulate, were spared (a fact which shows
the alliance between Brazil and Chili, explaining the reason why the
Argentine Republic had been kept quiet during this war), and that a guard
was sent to protect the house some times occupied by the French minister,
who had a friend upon the Chilian general’s staff, it will be hard to resist
the conviction that the burning of the rest of the town was deliberate, and
after all necessity for such destruction had ceased.
As to Barranco, where there had been no fighting, the British minister, who
went out with our dean and the French minister to see General Baquedano, on
the morning of the 15th (two days after the first battle and before the
second) informed me that as he passed Barranco the Chilian soldiers were
engaged in deliberately burning the town.
[Page 865]
The same thing, as I am informed and believe, took place at Miraflores,
inhabited largely by neutrals, among whom were several American and Swiss,
who had the proper flags and placards up. A part of the town was burned the
night after the battle of the afternoon of the 15th; but some of the best
buildings one and two days after.
Now, it is precisely upon this ground that the robbery and destruction were
deliberately committed, after all necessity or excuse for such acts had
ceased, that many claims have already been filed by American and Swiss
citizens in this legation. These claims I have not yet forwarded to Mr.
Osborn in Chili, believing it best, first to submit, as I now do to you, the
substantial facts upon which all of them must rest, and to take your
instructions whether to send them first to your Department, or to Mr.
Osborn.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
240.—Translation.]
Señor Valderrama to
the French minister to Chili.
Santiago
,
October 5,
1880.
Sir: After the conference which I had the honor
to hold with your excellency yesterday, and during which your excellency
signified to me the warm interest which you feel that the Government of
Chili should adopt efficacious measures to guard the persons and
interests of neutrals in the event that the proposed expedition of the
Chilian forces on Lima should be realized, I have been commissioned by
his excellency the President, to address a special note to the
general-in-chief of the army of operations, in order to satisfy, as far
as possible, the wishes expressed by your excellency. In fulfillment of
it, I address this day a note to the general-in-chief, in which I bring
to his knowledge:
- 1st.
- That the government wishes that neutral persons and their
interests be carefully respected during the military operations
against Lima and Callao.
- 2.
- That in order to make such” respect practicable, to hear the
indications which the honorable dean of the diplomatic corps may
make, and to attend all those which without embarrassing in any
way the action of our forces may tend to guarantee neutral
persons and their property.
- 3.
- I also tell him that your excellency has indicated to me, in
order to have neutral persons and their interests easily
certified to, the former will hold a certificate of the legation
of which he is a citizen or subject, and the latter will have,
besides the flag of its nation, a placard, authorized by the
seal and signature of the legation, fixed in a visible place on
the property.
The government feels confident that the general-in-chief will take
special care in harmonizing the important interests of neutrals, with
those corresponding to Chili, as belligerent.
I improve this opportunity to reiterate to your excellency the sentiments
of high and distinguished consideration with which I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
240.—Translation.]
Señor Pinto to
General Baquedano.
Legation of Salvador,
Lima
,
December 28,
1880.
Mr. General-in-Chief: The diplomatic corps
accredited in Lima, anxious about the perils to which the important and
valuble interests confided to their care may be subjected, on account of
the struggle which soon is to take place at the doors of the city, has
agreed that the undersigned, as the dean of the corps, would place
himself in immediate communication with your excellency, thus following
also the indication from the cabinet of Santiago, with the object of
providing in common accord the means which may be adopted to diminish,
as much as possible, the risks and perils to which the foreign colonies
may be exposed.
[Page 866]
The attention of neutral governments has, for some time back, been
directed to the disentanglement of the present war, and to the possible
eventualities which, in all cases, may affect the conditions of its
numerous citizens, and whose interests can be reckoned at hundreds of
millions.
With this motive, for the legitimate purpose of securing due protection
to such valuable interests, the governments which have legations
established in Santiago prescribed to those legations in advance to make
such efforts with the Government of Chili as may tend better to reach
that end, and the security of our compatriots without embarrassing the
military action of the belligerents.
In accord with those precautions our colleagues at Santiago, after an
understanding with the Government of Chili, which gave its best
attention to those observations have solicited our indications as to the
measures which, according to our judgment, would be more efficacious for
the object proposed. In consequence we have drawn and forwarded to them
the annexed scheme, a copy of which we inclose, which has met the
express and implicit approbation of all our governments.
The cabinet of Santiago, supposing that, perhaps, in certain cases,
military operations would prevent the complete application of the
measures proposed, has preferred not to bind itself with, but to adopt
definitely only a part of the project referred to, promising, as to the
other part of the same project, to send orders to the commander-in-chief
of the expedition with the view that said commander will have an
understanding with the diplomatic corps, represented by its dean, in
relation to those measures which circumstances will permit to adopt for
their most ample fulfillment.
I am now placed under the circumstances to propose to your excellency the
commencement of those relations of reciprocal intelligence, which place
us in a relation for me to fulfill the duties of my position under the
present circumstances, and on the part of your excellency to accomplish
the orders of your government, being both able to concur, through our
agreement, to attenuate and lessen the horrors inherent to the war, and
recognizing, in that manner, the age of civilization which we now
enjoy.
As far as it concerns us, we have endeavored that all foreigners be
provided with a certificate showing their nationality, allowing them to
fix, in a visible place on their domicile or house of commerce, a
placard with their national colors, authorized by their respective
legations or consulate general. This placard and the national flag which
most of them will hoist will be sufficient proof. Besides, we have
established certain private localities, which will be recognized by
special signs and held by persons duly authorized by us, which will be
the deposits of goods of our respective citizens, and asylums for their
families, when these should feel themselves in better security there. In
order that your excellency may have a better judgment of this I annex to
the present a plan of Lima, in which the legations, the asylums and
deposits of goods, and foreign houses of commerce, are shown, upon which
we wish to call the attention and care of your excellency by reason of
their special nationality. Your excellency will find also, in the same
plan,” the houses of every one of the members of the American congress
of jurists in Lima, whose existence in Lima is well known by the cabinet
of Santiago, and whose title and duties are evidently worthy of special
consideration.
As to the indications which we think it our duty to make to your
excellency, they could evidently not differ from the programme already
proposed to the Government of Chili, and which, as before stated, has
received the approval of our governments. For the rest, we have always
understood that the measures which your excellency will adopt, will be
according to the legitimate exigencies of the war and the security of
the army under your command.
Among those measures, there is one, above all, which the diplomatic corps
allows itself to recommend specially to the consideration of your
excellency. It is that in relation to the entry of the troops, in the
case that by consequence of events, the city of Lima should capitulate
or cease to be defended. In such case, in fact, the entry in mass, of
numerous troops, without necessity, would occasion great inconvenience.
For that reason, besides consulting the way to obviate inconveniences,
we think there would be positive advantages, in the successive entries
of the troops, and that such entry should be made only by a number
sufficient to guarantee its occupation.
This is a measure we have no doubt has already occurred to your
excellency, as others proper for the occasion, which will tend to avoid
unnecessary evils, to humanize the war, and to reduce its destructive
action to the limits prescribed by the rights of nations and Christian
civilization, under which guard modern nations are ennobled and
dignified.
As to the rest, promoting this communication for mutual intelligence, I
think that I have only anticipated your excellency’s ideas in the same
sense, since through them we prevent as much as possible the horrors of
the war, and avoid prejudice to the neutrals resident in these
countries, and perhaps their unnecessary ruin—which might give room to
grave complications—and at the same time avoid the criticism, more or
less severe, on the countries engaged in the struggle by other nations
of the world which are contemplating them.
[Page 867]
I improve this occasion, Mr. General-in-Chief, to offer to your
excellency the assurance of my high consideration.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
240.—Translation.]
General Baquedano
to Señor Pinto
.
Lurin
,
December 30,
1880.
I had the honor to receive the note dated 28th instant, in which your
excellency, as the dean of the diplomatic corps, resident in Lima, has
been pleased to address me, with the view to establish correspondence
between us, in order to avoid as much as possible the damages which may
be suffered by neutrals in their persons and property by the operations
which the army under my command may realize in defeating the army
defending that capital.
It is very satisfactory to me to say to your excellency, in answer to the
note above mentioned, that it is with pleasure I initiate those
relations, and that should your excellency wish, either to communicate
with me personally or by written letters, you will always rind me
disposed to receive with kindness all those suggestions which tend to
lessen as far as possible the wrongs and evils of the war.
I will do, in that light, all in my power, if the army of the enemy do
not make of the city of Lima the base of its defense.
But, if the contrary takes place, and I should be obliged to take it by
assault, your excellency will understand that it could not be possible
for me, either to give a term before commencing hostilities against that
capital, or limit the consequences of that combat and the occupation by
main force, as your excellency and myself wish it. In that case the city
will forcibly be subdued to the rules of war and suffer all its rigorous
consequences.
Wishing that the relations initiated by this note may efficaciously tend
to the humane views which have influenced your excellency in addressing
your excellency’s note to me, I improve this grateful opportunity to
offer to your excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
[Inclosure 4 in No.
240.—Translation.]
Señor Pinto to
General Baquedano
.
Legation of Salvador,
Lima
,
January 1,
1881.
Mr. General-in-Chief: I had the honor to
receive the answer your excellency has been pleased to give to my letter
of the 28th December last, the contents of which were immediately placed
before the diplomatic corps for their knowledge.
My colleagues accept with pleasure the assurances which your excellency
has transmitted. They could not but conceive doubts on your excellency’s
answer referring to the principal part of my note, that part which
refers to the entrance of troops into Lima. This part involves great
importance in the opinion of our governments, expressly approved by many
of them, and we must, therefore, insist again and solicit of your
excellency to let us know in a precise manner if your intention is, as
we understand it, to let but a limited number of selected force enter
the city in the particular case that it should not be taken by
storm.
It must have come to the knowledge of your excellency the rumors given by
the press of Chili relative to the sacking of Lima, notwithstanding that
we understand this is not the idea of the Government of Chili, proper
only to past ages, we cannot leave aside and must take into
consideration that the suggestions thrown to the public might have
raised in the minds of soldiers tendencies against which special
precautions are necessary.
We are placed now under the necessity to point them out to your
excellency, not doubting, however, that you are willing to adopt them in
order to prevent unnecessary wrongs, and cover your responsibility
before your own country and the opinion of the world.
We do not deny that, in the event of the city of Lima being taken by main
force, it would be impossible to limit the entrance of troops, nor for
the city to avoid undergoing [Page 868]
all the rigorous eventualities of the war. Nevertheless, we cannot, and
we ought not, to reckon among those eventualities the plunder of this
city. Your excellency knows well that the laws of war, as they are now
accepted by Christian civilization, condemn the plundering of private
property, as also attacking defenseless and non-combatant persons, even
in the case of a city being taken by assault. Our ideas agree generally
on that point, and your excellency will readily understand that it could
not be possible for us to remain indifferent at witnessing scenes
condemned by the unanimous opinion of the countries we represent.
The diplomatic corps is grateful to your excellency for the frank
deference with which your excellency accepted the relations it
initiated, and hope they will not prove fruitless towards the noble
purpose of humanizing the war, saving, as much as possible, large
neutral interests not involved in it, and the reputation before
universal public opinion of the people who sustain it.
Having thus fulfilled the commission received from my colleagues, it
remains for me to renew to your excellency the assurance of my high
consideration.
[Inclosure 5 in No.
240.—Translation.]
General Baquedano
to Señor Pinto.
Lurin
,
January 6,
1881.
No. 423.]
Mr. Minister: I have this moment received your
excellency’s note, dated the 1st instant, in which your excellency asks
if, in the event that the city of Lima opposes no resistance against the
force of my command, I will occupy it only with a select force? In the
contrary case, which is that of resistance, your excellency and
honorable colleagues, of the diplomatic corps condemn plunder, and wish
to have security that my troops will not perform such acts.
In answer to that letter my duty is merely to declare to your excellency
that the purpose of my government and my own is clearly stipulated in my
note of December 30 last.
Your excellency may understand that the passionate declarations of the
press of both belligerent countries cannot be the subject of official
discussion. Consequently your excellency will allow me not to refer to
the suggestion I found in the note of your excellency as to the
instigation of plunder which your excellency has thought to have found
in the press of my country.
As to the rest, your excellency may rest assured that my firm intention
is to humanize the war and prevent unnecessary wrongs to undefended
inhabitants in accord with the progress of the civilization of this
century.
But to this only my promise must be limited, because the future means
which I may adopt will depend upon circumstances which I cannot foresee
nor your excellency stipulate, because they will necessarily correspond
with the attitude the army of the enemy may assume.
I improve this opportunity to reiterate to your excellency the assurance
of the high consideration with which I subscribe myself your
excellency’s obedient servant.
[Inclosure 6 in No.
240.—Translation.]
General Baquedano
to Señor Pinto.
Chorillos
,
January 15, 1881—11
p.m.
Mr. Dean: Your excellency knows that in
consequence of the initiative voluntarily taken by the honorable
diplomatic corps to cease hostilities against that city I have not
carried into effect this morning the attack prepared against the forces
of the Peruvian army defending Miraflores.
Your excellency knows, and the honorable ministers of France and England
also know, that I, during the conference which we had to-day, refused to
prolong the term asked from me in order to interpose their good offices
near the Government of Peru with the same pacific view; but that at last
yielding to the repeated entreaties of your excellency and of your
honorable colleagues, and as a proof of special deference to neutrals, I
consented to wait for the answer which your excellency was to give to me
until midnight of this day.
Well, the army of the enemy, whose chiefs were to know the arrangements
made by [Page 869] the honorable
diplomatic corps and to have received proper orders, opened fire to-day
at 2.20 p.m. upon the undersigned, his chief of the general staff and
aids who reconnoitered the field to see the situation of our troops.
This treachery of the enemy obliges me to hasten the operations under my
care, and, in consequence, I address myself to your excellency craving
to communicate to your honorable colleagues the resolution I made to
bombard to-morrow, if I think it opportune, the city of Lima, until I
obtain its unconditional surrender.
With sentiments of distinguished consideration, I subscribe myself, your
obedient servant,
[Inclosure 7 in No. 240.—Translation La
Actualidad, Lima, February 4, 1881.]
Extract from General Baquedano’s report to his
government, dated January 16, 1881.
* * * At nine our victory was complete in Chorillos and on the fortified
hills extending to the south; but about 8,000 men which remained there
still continued to resist. With these forces a second battle took place.
It was necessary to drive them out from each one of the streets and
houses of the town and from the heights, which they held. This obstinate
combat lasted until 2 o’clock p.m., at which hour the battle was over,
with a victory which gave us possession of the enemy’s entire line and
of the towns of Chorillos and Barranco, which as a consequence of their
resistance were burned and destroyed.