Barinaga to Christiancy, September 14, 1880
Mr. Barinaga to Mr. Christiancy.
Mr. Minister: Informed by your excellency respecting your voyage to Santiago de Chili, to which place you went for the purpose of proposing to the government of that republic the mediation of the United States of America, in order to negotiate peace with Peru and Bolivia, which mediation had been accepted by Chili, and in virtue of which you proposed the same to my government, the latter decided, after conferring with the minister plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bolivia, to accept the offered mediation solely in deference to the Government of the United States, and notwithstanding that the motives of the war declared by Chili, which took Peru by surprise, and the manner in which it has been conducted from the first had convinced us how far Chili was from the path of moderation and justice, the sole path in which peace is possible, as I had the honor to say to you in a verbal conference on this business.
The acts which the Chilian forces have, notwithstanding, done at more than 100 leagues from our army, and from any objective military point, acts of pillage, incendiarism, devastation, and all manner of outrages against private property of natives and foreigners, especially after having accepted the mediation of the government of your excellency, if not compatible with the consideration which is due to the friendly mediator, cannot but confirm that presumption, awakening a spirit of indignation difficult to control. My government confines itself to expressing that sentiment, leaving to that of your excellency and to your excellency yourself the due appreciation of such conduct. My government thinks that if the love of peace and the consideration which it feels for the government and people of the United States can decide it, notwithstanding the evident justice of its cause and its complete confidence in the final result of the war, and the injuries and losses sustained, to enter upon negotiations for peace, it is natural that such motives should be entirely destroyed by the actual and melancholy evidence that we are contending with those who in such manner violate the laws of civilization and the respect which cultured people owe to themselves.
It is pleasing to me to avail myself of this opportunity to offer to your excellency my considerations of especial esteem.