Mr. Washburn to Mr. Seward.
No. 67.]
Buenos Ayres,
August 17,
1866.
Sir: Soon after my return from Corrientes to
this place, I was told by our consul, H. R. Helper, esq., that he had
had an interview with the minister for foreign affairs, Señor Elizalde,
who had protested to him that the Argentine government had never had the
least desire or intention to show any disrespect or discourtesy to any
agent or representative of the United States, and that he desired that I
should call upon him at the foreign affairs office, when he doubted not
he could make such explanations to me in regard to my detention within
the military lines of the allies as would be satisfactory.
I accordingly called on Señor Elizalde as requested, and the result of
our conversation was that he expressed a desire for me to write a note
requesting permission to pass up to Paraguay, and he would refer the
matter to the Montevideo government and to the Brazilian minister at
Corrientes, and after he should hear from them he would give me an
answer. Having already waited five or six months in Corrientes for an
answer from President Mitre, promised under similar circumstances and in
similar terms, I told him that orders had been sent by my government
that a national war vessel should take me to my post of duty, and that
when said vessel was ready I intended to go up to Asuncion, whether the
permission of the allied forces was granted or not. He replied that in
that case his government could only protest, as the whole naval force of
the allies was under the control of the Brazilians. He was very
solicitous, however, that I should write him some kind of a letter, as
he said he could do nothing without the concurrence of the allies, and a
note from me would furnish the occasion for an appeal to them. I
accordingly sent him a copy of my protest to President Mitre of the date
of 21st of July, a copy of which I have already sent to you. This was
accompanied by a brief note, in which I said that, as President Mitre
had written me that such protest should be made to his government,
rather than to himself, I enclosed him a copy of it, and took the
occasion to repeat and reiterate it.
I enclose a copy of my note herewith, and a translation of Señor
Elizalde’s answer.
I am, sir, very truly, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Washburn to Señor Elizalde.
Buenos Ayres,
August 13,
1866.
Sir: On the 21st ultimo, I had the honor of
addressing a note to his excellency Don Bartolome Mitre, president
of the Argentine republic and commander-in-chief of the allied
[Page 597]
armies, protesting against
my long detention within the military lines under his command. In
his answer to that letter, his excellency the president did me the
honor to say that as he was but commander-in-chief of the army, it
was not for him to enter into diplomatic disputes, and that if there
were occasion for the protest it must be made to his government.
Having waited for near five months in Corrientes after delivering
into the hands of the President your letter of the 2d of March last,
in which your excellency in behalf of your government requested him
to furnish me with the necessary facilities for passing through the
military lines to Paraguay, and such facilities not having been
granted me to the present date, the refusal, moreover, being
aggravated by repeated assurances that a definite answer should be
given me within a very few days, which answer has never yet been
given me, I now enclose a copy of that protest to your excellency,
and take the opportunity to say that it is hereby repeated and
reiterated.
I avail myself of this occasion to offer to your excellency the
assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
CHARLES A. WASHBURN, United States
Minister to the Republic of Paraguay.
His Excellency Don Rufino de Elizalde,
Minister for Foreign Relations.
[Translation.]
Señor Elizalde to Mr. Washburn.
Ministry of Foreign
Relations,
Buenos Ayres,
August 14, 1866.
Señor Minister: I have the honor to answer
your excellency’s note of yesterday, the 13th instant, making known
to you that the Argentine government has addressed to its allies in
the war against the government of Paraguay, to whom it is probable
(es natural) that your excellency has addressed a like
communication, in order that they may agree on the resolution that
the case may require, it being agreeable to me to express to your
excellency that the Argentine government is disposed, for its part,
to solicit the acquiescence of its allies, in order to do in respect
to your excellency, as the representative of a government that
merits the greatest sympathies and estimation, all that may be
compatible with the rights and primordial interests of the
alliance.
I improve this occasion to offer to your excellency the assurances of
my most distinguished consideration.
His Excellency The Minister of the United
States of America,
in the Republic of Paraguay.
