Legation of the United States,
Lima, Peru, April 1, 1892.
(Received April 22.)
No. 355.]
Subsequently I addressed a note to the minister of foreign affairs in
regard to the claim known as that of the Hydrographic Commission and I
append a copy of the same herewith.
[Inclosure in No. 355.]
Mr. Hicks to Dr.
Elmore.
Legation of the United States,
Lima, March 30, 1892.
No. 76.]
Sir: I beg once more to call your
excellency’s attention most respectfully to the debt known as the
Hvdrographic Commission claim, as mentioned in my note No. 58,
[Page 1050]
to your excellency under
date of October 1, 1891. This is no ordinary claim involving
disputed and contested points which might fairly be pleaded in
extenuation of the unusual delay in settlement. On the contrary, the
amount is due on contract to American citizens who periled their
lives in prosecuting the work of surveying the Amazonian regions of
Peru. I need not again call your excellency’s attention to the fact
that this amount has been audited and ordered paid; that a draft was
drawn for the amount but never paid, and that subsequently it was
audited a second time and ordered paid. Finally, in 1890, it was
transmitted to the minister of hacienda for payment, but has not yet
been paid. Your excellency will perceive that great injustice has
been done these worthy men, several of whom have died since the work
was done, leaving as an inheritance to their families this still
unsatisfied claim against your excellency’s Government.
The amount of this claim, as appears by previous correspondence on
the subject with your excellency’s predecessors, $11,447.63 American
gold, with interest, as will be seen by reference to the note No. 3
of his excellency Dr. Manuel Yrigoyen, minister of foreign affairs,
to Señor Don Ricardo Gibbs, envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary of the United States, dated Lima, January 14, 1879.
This amount at 6 per cent interest for fifteen years amounts to
$10,302.87, which, added to the principal aforesaid, aggregates the
sum of $21,450.50 American gold.
I am carrying out the wishes of my Government in expressing the hope
that your excellency will so present this debt to the consideration
of your Congress that it may receive early attention.
I take pleasure in renewing to your excellency the assurance of the
high regard and esteem with which I have the honor, etc.,
