Mr. Seward to Señor Asta Buruaga.
Sir: I have had the honor to submit to the President the copy which you left me on the 26th instant of a despatch which you had received under date of April 2, from Mr. Covarrubias.
The remarks of that minister have not had the effect to convince the President that any error was committed on our part in withdrawing the exequatur from Mr. Rogers, late Chilian vice consul in New York, or in the summary manner in which that proceeding was conducted. The revocation of the exequatur of the vice consul was summarily made under full conviction on the part of this government that the complaints of his violation of the neutrality laws were sustained by presumptive proof, and that to allow him to continue to exercise consular functions while pursuing such unlawful practices would involve a necessity for explanations between the government of Chili and that of the United States which could in no case improve the friendship existing between them, and might, perhaps, result in producing a rupture of relations which would be prejudicial to both, and to the cause of all the American republics. It is, however, an occasion of much regret that a commercial agent of your country should have proved himself unworthy of the confidence reposed in him by the friendly government of the United States.
I avail myself of this occasion, sir, to tender to you a renewed assurance of my high consideration.
Señor F. S. Asta Buruaga, &c., &c., &c.