Mr. Kirk to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Since my last, nothing of importance has transpired in reference to the army. The position of the belligerents is nearly the same. It is said the principal part of the Paraguayan army is at what is called the “Paso de la Patria,” on the Parana river, where it is supposed President Mitre intends crossing with his army into Paraguay.
The allies have complete control of the river immediately above Corrientes. The Paraguayans are shut out from the rest of the world, and of course must rely on their own resources, which it is thought are nearly exhausted.
The mail of yesterday brought the news from Montevideo of a rupture between that government and Mr. Lasterriâ, the Chilian minister accredited there. As near as I can get at the facts, they are as follows:
In the month of November Mr. Lasterriâ asked permission of the government of Uruguay to bring whatever prizes the Chilian corsairs might take belonging to Spanish merchantmen into the port at Montevideo, in order that they might be sold.
The government in reply declined granting this request, and refused to permit these prizes being brought into any ports of the republic. That although they deeply sympathized with Chili, and hoped for a speedy and honorable termination of the war with Spain, they could not lay aside the principles of neutrality. Many letters passed on this question, until the government of Uruguay sent Mr. Lasterriâ his letter of credence, and suspended all further communication with him. After having examined the correspondence, I am satisfied the government was right, and the minister wrong. Enclosed I send a Spanish copy of the correspondence.
I had a conversation with Dr. Ransom this morning, (minister of the interior ;) he says that Mr. Lasterriâ is urging the same thing on this government, but they will be compelled to refuse his application, notwithstanding their deep sympathy for Chili. In the same conversation he informed me that Semmes, of the Alabama, had applied through their minister in England for a position in the Argentine navy. Their minister has indorsed the application, but the government declined the honor. He said many such applications had been made by confederates, but they had all been declined. He also remarked that men who had fought against so grand a government as ours could not be safely trusted in any republic.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.