Mr. Nelson to Mr. Seward.
Sir:On the 7th instant, in obedience to your instruction of the 18th of August, No. 73, I had the honor to address a note to the secretary of foreign relations of the republic of Chili, manifesting the gratification with which my government and the people of the United States had learned the evidences of good will and friendship exhibited by the government and people of Chili, upon the occasion of the late anniversary of the independence of the United States.
I further stated that I had been instructed to express to the government and people of Chili, and to the society of the “Union Americana” the profound satisfaction experienced by the government and people I have the honor to represent at these renewed proofs of friendship and sympathy, and my trust that such sentiments may ever exist between the two nations.
On the 10th instant his excellency replied, in a very cordial note, reiterating similar expressions of earnest good will, and informing me that he had been instructed by the President to express to me the sincere satisfaction with which he had welcomed this new evidence of reciprocal good understanding between the governments and the people of the United States and Chili.
I have the honor to transmit herewith, marked respectively A, B, and C, copies of the correspondence above mentioned, together with a printed copy of the same in Spanish from the official organ the “Americano.”
Under date of the 7th instant I also addressed a note to Mr. Covarrubias, (D,) acknowledging the receipt of a communication from him, dated September 29, and transmitting me a copy of the decree of the President of the 27th ultimo, declaring coal to be contraband of war. Copies and translations of these two latter documents accompanied my despatch No. 149, of September 30.
In consequence of certain publications copied into a portion of the press of [Page 188] Chili, from foreign and prejudiced sources, and reflecting unfairly upon the foreign policy of the government of the United States, I took occasion, in an interview which I had with Mr. Covarrubias on the 8th instant, to explain to him the true position of my government towards foreign powers.
Mr. Covarrubias replied as follows:
“In the present position of the government of the United States, it must be evident to the mind of any statesman of calm reasoning that the position it has assumed in regard to its foreign relations could be none other, in justice to the high and important interests involved in the mighty struggle now in progress. Much as it might desire to intervene in other American affairs, its hands are tied by domestic obligations which it cannot ignore. In my opinion the present policy of the government of the United States is temporary, not fixed and permanent, but born of the very exigencies of the situation, and a natural consequence of the very difficult position of its domestic affairs.
“The earnest sympathies of Chili are for the cause of the Union, the cause of justice, right, and humanity, and under no circumstances could those sympathies be enlisted in behalf of the cause of the south.”
This expression of sentiments, on the part of the secretary of foreign relations, was most gratifying to me, and I assured his excellency would be no less so to my government, to which I should take pleasure in communicating it.
I have the honor to remain your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States.