^^  I  regret  that  a  report  which  has  been  communicated  to  the  De-
partment obliges  me  to  request  that  you  will  make  a  strong  represen-
tation in  the  premises  to  the  Peruvian  Government,  should  you  find  on
inqniry  that  the  report  is  well  founded.  This  report  is  that  the  Peru-
vians have  made  use,  during  the  present  war  with  Chili,  of  <  boots  con-
taining explosive  materials,'  which  have  4n  some  instances  been  sent
adrift  on  ihecJuince  of  their  being  fallen  in  with  by  some  of  the  Cbilian

381


§  361a.]  BLOCKADE.  [CHAP.  XVIII.
blockading  Bquadrons.'  How  far  the  case  of  the  laonch  to  which  yoa
refer  in  yonr  Ko.  183,  which  was  loaded  with  concealed  dynamite,  comes
within  the  description  of  cases  mentioned,  the  Department  has  not  the
requisite  data  to  determine.
^<  It  is  sufficiently  obvions  that  this  practice  must  be  fraught  with
danger  to  neutral  vessels  entitled  to  protection  under  the  law  of  nations,
and  that  in  case  American  vessels  are  injured  thereby,  this  Government
can  do  no  less  than  hold  the  Government  of  Peru  responsible  for  any
damage  which  may  be  thus  occasioned.
