Editing James G. Blaine (section)

=== Foreign policy initiatives ===
Blaine saw presiding over the cabinet as a chance to preside over the Washington social scene, as well, and soon ordered construction of a [[James G. Blaine Mansion|new, larger home]] near [[Dupont Circle]].{{sfn|Muzzey|p=185}} Although his foreign policy experience was minimal, Blaine quickly threw himself into his new duties.{{sfn|Muzzey|pp=191–195}} By 1881, Blaine had completely abandoned his [[Protectionism|protectionist]] leanings and now used his position as Secretary of State to promote freer trade, especially within the [[western hemisphere]].{{sfnm|Crapol||1pp=62–64|Pletcher||2pp=55–56}} His reasons were twofold: firstly, Blaine's old fear of British interference in the Americas was undiminished, and he saw increased trade with Latin America as the best way to keep Britain from dominating the region.{{sfnm|Crapol||1pp=62–64|Pletcher||2pp=55–56}} Secondly, he believed that by encouraging exports, he could increase American prosperity, and by doing so position the Republican party as the author of that prosperity, ensuring continued electoral success.{{sfnm|Crapol||1pp=62–64|Pletcher||2pp=55–56}} Garfield agreed with his Secretary of State's vision and Blaine called for a Pan-American conference in 1882 to mediate disputes among the Latin American nations and to serve as a forum for talks on increasing trade.{{sfnm|Crapol||1pp=65–66|Doenecke||2pp=55–57|Healy||3pp=57–60}} At the same time, Blaine hoped to negotiate a peace in the [[War of the Pacific]] then being fought by [[Bolivia]], [[Chile]], and [[Peru]].{{sfnm|Crapol||1pp=65–66|Doenecke||2pp=55–57|Healy||3pp=57–60}} Blaine favored a resolution that would not result in Peru yielding any territory, but Chile, which had by 1881 occupied the Peruvian capital, rejected any negotiations that would gain them nothing.{{sfnm|Doenecke||1pp=57–58|Crapol||2p=70}} Blaine sought to expand American influence in other areas, calling for renegotiation of the [[Clayton–Bulwer Treaty]] to allow the United States to construct [[Panama Canal|a canal through Panama]] without British involvement, as well as attempting to reduce British involvement in the strategically located [[Kingdom of Hawaii]].{{sfnm|Crapol||1pp=74–80|Doenecke||2pp=64–67|Healy||3pp=40–52}} His plans for the United States' involvement in the world stretched even beyond the Western Hemisphere, as he sought commercial treaties with [[Joseon Dynasty|Korea]] and [[Merina Kingdom|Madagascar]].{{sfnm|Crapol||1p=81|Doenecke||2pp=71–73}}
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