No. 12.
Mr. Osborn
to Mr. Evarts.
Buenos Ayres, February 18, 1880. (Received March 30.)
Sir: The political crisis is past, the situation has improved, civil war for the time at least has been averted, the troops are returning to their encampments, and the people to their former occupations.
Through the efforts of the “peace committee,” an interview was brought about yesterday at 4 p.m. between the President and the governor of this province at the national government house.
The interview lasted one hour, and as no one was present, the result was not made public, except that the President and governor were to have another conference at 8 p.m.
At 9 p.m. the President issued the following decree as the result of the conference:
Buenos Ayres, February 17, 1880.
To His Excellency the Minister of the Interior:
I have just received from his excellency, the governor of Buenos Ayres, the most perfect assurance that the law of the 13th October, 1879, will be strictly fulfilled. I have accepted this patriotic assurance from the governor of Buenos Ayres, and the national government will act in accordance with the new situation. Necessary orders will be issued for the second, third, and sixth battalions of infantry, and the second, third, and sixth regiments of cavalry of the line to suspend their march.
I learn that the interview was opened by Governor Tejedor on the interpretation of the law of October 13 ultimo, which prohibits the governors from calling out the provincial troops previous to the general election for President.
It is understood as a result of the conference, and from the movements of the troops to-day (I think it is true), that the President has [Page 17] agreed to withdraw all of the national troops from the city, excepting those necessary for garrison duty; and the governor on his part is to disband the volunteer corps, but the volunteers are to retain their arms, and to organize themselves into target companies under the law. No condition was made by the President that General Roca should resign his candidature. The peace committee has commissioned General Campos adjutant-general, who left late last night for Cordoba to request him to resign. From the best information that I can obtain, Roca will not resign. If he does not, the opposition to him has not obtained the object desired by the late demonstration against the general government, except, perhaps, the governor, as intimated.
If General Roca refuses to resign, but insists upon his candidature, the peace may not be lasting. The President undoubtedly believes that all is over, as he will leave the city this 2 p.m. for his country residence, some ten miles from the city.
I have, &c.,