Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress
Mr. Asboth to Mr. Seward.
Sir: In compliance with a note of the Hon. Charles A. Washburn, United States minister resident to Paraguay, a copy of which I beg to enclose, marked A, I have the honor to forward a memorandum of the conversation that passed between him and the Argentine minister for foreign affairs, Señor Dr. Don Rufino de Elizalde, at an official interview on the 22d of October, 1866, in this city.
The memorandum is marked B.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
A.
Mr. Washburn to Mr. Asboth.
Sir: On the 20th interest I received an invitation from the minister of foreign affairs, Señor Elizalde, to meet him at the Government House at one o’clock to-day, for the purpose of holding a personal conference with him. I accepted the invitation and have the honor herewith to enclose a memorandum of the conversation that passed between us, in order that you may be fully informed of the nature and exact position of the question which we had under discussion.
I have to ask that, in giving your report of your own action on this affair to the Secretary of State, you will forward with it this memorandum, as under the pressure of occupation previous to my leaving for Paraguay, I find it impossible to give a full account of all that has transpired of an official character affecting the interests of our government within the last few days.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
General Alexander Asboth, United States Minister Resident, Buenos Ayres.
B.
Memorandum of a conversation that took place between Hon. Charles A. Washburn and Dr. Rufino de Elizalde, in an official interview, on the 22d of October, 1866, at 1 p. m.
Dr. Elizalde, the Argentine minister for foreign affairs, commenced by stating that he had requested the present conference in order to say to Mr. Washburn that, in answer to a note he had written to the Brazilian government, requesting a written document authorizing him to give permission to Mr. Washburn, in the name of the allies, to pass up to his official residence in Paraguay, it had been received with the required authority, producing the documents; he also said that on last Saturday, the 20th instant, he had written to the Oriental government, soliciting a similar document from that government, which he had not yet received, but expected to do so in a day or two, when he would be able to inform Mr. Washburn officially that all obstructions to his passage up the Asuncion had been removed.
Mr. Washburn, the United States minister to Paraguay, said, in answer, that, as he had been detained already so long here, he intended leaving on the following day, the 23d instant, at 11 a. m., in the United States steamer Shamokin, and that any document that Mr. Elizalde might wish to send him could be sent through the United States minister, General Asboth, as, in all probability, it would take six or eight days to go as far as Corrientes, as the steamer would not steam at night; and any document might be sent to him there.
Mr. Elizalde asked him to postpone his departure for one day longer, as, by his doing so, he would be enabled to send him an official order to the allies to allow him to pass, and that the manner he proposed to convey Mr. Washburn to Paraguay was by putting here a vessel at his disposal, which would take him as far as the Paso la Patria, and there he and his baggage would be landed and conveyed in a carriage, under flag of truce, to Lopez’s encampment, where there were also carriages and conveniences which could take him as far as Asuncion.
Mr. Washburn answered that such a proceeding was not in accordance with his instructions from his government, and could not accept them.
Mr. Elizalde again requested him to remain a day longer, and then, in answer to the note and proposed mode of conveyance, he might give a written answer, saying that he could not accept that mode of transportation, naming his reasons, and, in turn, mentioning the mode he should adopt in going up to Asuncion; and, if they considered that they were in accordance with the law of nations, they should give their permission; if not, Mr. Washburn might do as he thought best, and they should protest, and then the matter became more serious, as, in all probability, he would be stopped by the blockading squadron of the allies.
Mr. Washburn stated that he did not consider any blockade existed; he did not recognize the blockade, and never had.
Mr. Elizalde then asked why all the notes had been passed from Mr. Washburn asking permission to pass into Paraguay, if he did not recognize the blockade; that before, Mr. Washburn not only asked permission to pass, but also requested a safe conveyance for himself and family into Paraguay; but that now, as he needed neither, he might do as he felt disposed, but that the rights of the United States were those of all nations, and that should he endeavor to force the blockade they would demand reparations.
Mr. Washburn stated that during his stay at the Estero Bellaco, some eight or nine months ago, he would have been willing to have gone on horseback alone, with a carpet-bag, and Mr his wife at Corrientes, but that now, after waiting so long, he wanted a more convenient mode of going up; besides, he had very little discretion in the matter, and his instructions from his government were imperative.
Elizalde said that the Brazilians had been against Mr. Washburn’s going up all along, and that when the matter was proposed a special session was convened at Rio, and it was decided that Mr. Washburn had no right to go up.
Mr. Washburn said that he was informed by General Webb that the Brazilians had never been opposed to his repairing to his post of duty, but that the Argentine government was the only one opposed.
Elizalde answered by saying that must have been a mistake, as the Argentine government have been willing from the commencement, and that if he, Elizalde, had the power over the allies, he should not only allow Mr. Washburn to go up, but endeavor in every possible way to expedite his departure, as he was well aware of the influence Mr. Washburn’s presence in Paraguay would have on the war; he, Mr. Washburn, knowing the exact position of both armies and affairs would be consulted by Lopez, and his advice taken, which could not help being favorable to the allies.
Mr. Washburn stated that, unless he should go up to Paraguay in an American vessel of war, a good deal of the influence he now had would be lost; his reception then by Lopez would not be so cordial as by his going up any way, or by the means proposed by Elizalde; it would appear as if Mr. Washburn had been acting in combination with the allies.
Mr. Elizalde’s opinion was to the contrary; and Lopez would only be too glad to get him and consider him as “an anchor of hope,” that some arrangement might be made between himself and the allies.
[Page 297]Mr. Washburn stated that during all his official visits to the Estero Bellaco, to General Mitre, he had always thought that he, General Mitre, had been acting in good faith, and still thought so, and desired him to pass to his post of duty at Asuncion, but that the Brazilians were opposed to his passing.
Elizalde said he knew it to be the case.
Mr. Washburn stated that he did not know whether he would be able to go up all the way in the United States steamer Shamokin, on account of the obstructions in the riven but that he should go up as far as Corrientes, leaving this port on Wednesday, the 24th instant, at 11 a. m.
Mr. Elizalde mentioned, unofficially, leaving the point in question aside, that the most convenient way, in his opinion, for Mr. Washburn to get to Paraguay would be by going up as far as the Paso la Patria by water, then land and go by carriage to Lopez’s encampment, his baggage and provisions be taken by a schooner as far as allowed by Lopez, and then taken, also by water, up to Asuncion by a vessel of Lopez’s.
Mr. Washburn said that his baggage would be considerable, as he could not go into a country like Paraguay without taking a good stock of provisions for himself and family, as he did not know how long the war might last—it might last two months or a year; and finally concluded by saying that he should ask for the anchor of the Shamokin to be weighed on Wednesday, the 24th instant, at 11 a. m.—the interview having lasted precisely one hour.
The above I certify to be a correct account of the interview to which it refers.