Mr. Seward to Mr. Asboth.
Sir: The long detention of Mr. Washburn on his return to Paraguay has become a source of extreme irritation and annoyance. At the same time it has been impossible to maintain any regularity of correspondence upon the subject with the allies, or even with Mr. Washburn himself, during the past year.
I have now before me a copy of a definitive correspondence which has taken place between this department and the Brazilian government, which leads me to hope that long before this reaches you the difficulty will entirely have ceased. But among the papers which the record presents is a letter written by President Mitre to Mr. Washburn on the 24th of July last, which distinctly asserts and maintains the right of the allies to make that detention endure according to the pleasure of the allies. The President of the United States cannot consent to hold relations of peace and friendship with even friendly nations, when they make their own interests the rule of exposition, instead of the law of nations.
You are therefore instructed to protest with due seriousness against President Mitre’s letter to Mr. Washburn, and to say that this government cannot acquiesce therein.
You will read this despatch to the minister of foreign affairs, and give him a copy if he shall desire it.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Alexander Asboth, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
P. S.—I transmit herewith copy of the correspondence* between this department and Mr. Webb, as well as of the letter of President Mitre to Mr. Washburn on the same subject.
- For enclosures, see correspondence with the United States minister to Brazil.↩