THE LOBOS ISLANDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 111, 19 February 1853, Page 5

THE LOBOS ISLANDS.

We are glad to find, from the annexed letters, that the American Government, on more mature consideration, has determined to pursue a line of policy with regard to the guano question more consistent with its own dignity and the undoubted rights of Peru than Mr. Webster's order of the 16th of June had prepared us to expect. It will be seen with satisfaction that Mr. Jewett's piratical expedition is now stigmatized by Mr. Webster as ' an act of private war, which can never receive any countenance' from the American Government, and that the commander of the United States squadron in the Pacific has been ordered 'to abstain from aiding or abetting any citizen of the United States' who may resist the lawful authority of the Peruvian llepublic . — Department of State, Washington, August 21. "Sir, —Your letter of the 16th instant, with the accompanying papers, relative to your pro ceedings for the purpose of taking guano from the Lobos Islands, has been received. Since the one addressed to you by this department, under date the sth, in answer to yours of the 2nd of June last, information has reached the department that the Peruvian Government claims jurisdiction over these islands, and that in 1842 it issued two decrees prohibiting any foreign vessels, upon the penalty of confiscation, removiug guano from any of the islands near the coast of Peru without a license from that Government. Under these circumstances, it is expected that the vessels which have proceeded thither under your auspices will not make use of the arms with which, it appears from your letter of the 16th instant, they are provided, for the purpose of forcibly resisting the "Peruvian authorities. You must be aware that such a resistance would be an act of private war, which can never receive.any countenance from this Government. The commander of the United States squadron in the Pacific will also, under existing circumstances, be required to abstain from protecting any vessels of the United States which may visit those islands for purposes forbidden by the decrees of the Peruvian Government until he shall receive further orders. " Some of the statements contained in your letter of the 2nd of June last had a tendency to mislead us, and as intimated above, may, it is apprehended, have done so. "I am, Sir, very respectfully, " Your obedient servant, " Daniel Webster. " To J. C. Jewett, Esq., New York." " August 25th, 1852. " Sir, —By direction of the President, you are hereby instructed to suspend, until further orders, the execution of the order addressed to you under date of June 16th, 1852, and you are required to abstain from aiding or abetting any citizen of the United States who may forcibly resist the execution of the laws of Peru by the authority of that Republic. " 1 am, &c, John P. Kennedy "Commodore C. S. M'Aulay, Commanding U.S. Squadron, Pacific Ocean."