No. 317.
Mr. Evarts to Sir Edward
Thornton.
Washington, September 24, 1879.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note to this Department, dated the 8th instant, in which you refer to previous correspondence in reference to the inquiry you made in June last, by direction of the Marquis of Salisbury, as to whether the Government of the United States would be disposed to join Great Britain and Germany in offering their mediation with a view of concluding the war between Chili and Peru. You also mention the reply of this government to that proposal expressing its readiness to assist in the restoration of peace between the belligerents whenever its good offices might be usefully proffered, but not favoring a premature effort nor an effort in combination with other neutral powers which would carry the impression of dictation or coercion in disparagement of belligerent rights.
You say, furthermore, that you have recently observed statements in American newspapers to the effect that this government has instructed its ministers at Lima and Santiago de Chili to tender the good offices of the United States to secure an honorable settlement of the difficulties between the belligerent governments, whenever they shall intimate that such friendly services will be accepted with that end in view, and you express the hope that I will think myself justified in acquainting you, for the information of Her Majesty’s Government, as to whether the newspaper statements to which you refer are founded on fact, and whether the hope may be entertained that the steps thus reported to have been taken by the Government of the United States may lead to the conclusion of peace between the republics of Chili and Peru.
In reply, I have to say that I have delayed answering your note above mentioned, which was brought to my notice on my return to Washington, on the 16th instant, until I could examine the correspondence with the several ministers at Peru, Chili, and Bolivia, which had taken place during my absence.
The statements in the newspapers to which you refer, have not specifically attracted my attention. I am able to say, however, that our ministers have given and are giving attention to the wishes of this government to proffer its good offices in favor of peace at the earliest indication of the readiness of the belligerents to consider such good offices acceptable.
This purpose this government will not fail to pursue; and with good hopes that the events of the war may soon dispose all the belligerents to desire its honorable conclusion. It would be premature to anticipate an immediate opportunity for a definite proposal of peaceful methods through the good offices of this government which would gain the concurrent consent of the three belligerents.
It will give me pleasure early to acquaint you, for the information of your government, with any decisive indications of a disposition to make a peaceful solution of the unhappy controversy through the interposed friendship of this government.
I have, &c.,