 Entering the presidency , Garfield had little foreign policy experience , so he leaned heavily on Blaine . Blaine , a former protectionist , now agreed with Garfield on the need to promote freer trade , especially within the Western Hemisphere . Their reasons were twofold : firstly , Garfield and Blaine believed that increasing trade with Latin America would be the best way to keep Great Britain from dominating the region . Secondly , by encouraging exports , they believed they could increase American prosperity , and by doing so position the Republican party as the author of that prosperity , ensuring continued electoral success . Garfield authorized Blaine to call 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 . At the same time , they hoped to negotiate a peace in the War of the Pacific then being fought by Bolivia , Chile , and Peru . Blaine favored a resolution that would not result in Peru yielding any territory , but Chile , which had by 1881 occupied the Peruvian capital , Lima , rejected any settlement that restored the previous status quo . Garfield sought to expand American influence in other areas , calling for renegotiation of the Clayton @-@ Bulwer Treaty to allow the United States to construct a canal through Panama without British involvement , as well as attempting to reduce British influence in the strategically located Kingdom of Hawaii . Garfield 's and Blaine 's plans for the United States ' involvement in the world stretched even beyond the Western Hemisphere , as he sought commercial treaties with Korea and Madagascar . Garfield also considered enhancing the United States ' military strength abroad , asking Navy Secretary Hunt to investigate the condition of the navy with an eye toward expansion and modernization . In the end , these ambitious plans came to nothing after Garfield was assassinated . Nine countries had accepted invitations to the Pan @-@ American conference , but the invitations were withdrawn in April 1882 after Blaine resigned from the cabinet and Arthur , Garfield 's successor , cancelled the conference . Naval reform continued under Arthur , if on a more modest scale than Garfield and Hunt had envisioned , ultimately ending in the construction of the Squadron of Evolution . 
