Mr. Washburn to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The great irregularity and uncertainty of the established mail line between this country and the United States induces me to send this despatch by a sailing vessel that will leave this port to-morrow for New York, as the chances are that it will thus reach its destination sooner than if sent through the mail, by way of Rio de Janeiro, and by the American mail steamer.
The news from the seat of war is important, but the rumors and reports afloat in regard to it are so contradictory that I can only gather the following facts: That President Lopez sent a flag of truce to the camp of President Mitre and requested a conference; that a conference between the commanders-in-chief was held, lasting for five hours, at the latter part of which General Flores was present, but, though requested to do so both by Mitre and Lopez, the Brazilian general-in-chief, Polodoro, refused to attend the conference. The newspaper reports are to this effect, that Lopez professed a desire to stop fighting and treat for peace; that he was ready to submit the questions in dispute to be arranged by treaty, and come to such terms of arrangement as would be honorable for all parties. To this President Mitre replied that the allies were equally tired of fighting, but the terms of the “triple alliance” must be fulfilled, the leading article of which was, that neither of the three allied powers should ever treat with Lopez, and, therefore, it was necessarily a condition precedent to any negotiation [Page 603] that he should leave the country. To these demands Lopez is said to have replied, that if no other terms would be accepted by the allies, he would fight it out to the last. The interview was conducted with strict courtesy on both sides, as between Mitre and Lopez, though some words of crimination and recrimination passed between the latter and General Flores. Nothing, therefore, seems to have resulted from the interview, though the opinion is very prevalent here that it is a prelude to peace. I do not, however, concur in this opinion.
I send you with this copious extracts from the English newspaper here, The Standard, giving the substance of the reports now in circulation.
I hear nothing later from Admiral Godon, neither do I hear anything from General Asboth. The French packet, due eight days hence, will probably bring the latter, or at least some news in regard to him, and I trust by that time I shall learn whether or not it is the intention of the admiral to obey the instructions of the Secretary of the Navy, and furnish me with a war vessel to reach Paraguay. A copy of those instructions were received by me on the 26th of July at Corrientes, and they must have been received by him some three weeks earlier. He remained in Rio till near the time when he might reasonably expect to get a letter from me, and then, on the 4th of August, started to go north. The Standard of this morning has the following paragraph in regard to him: “The American admiral, when last heard of, was at Bahia. We are happy to learn that he also has been promoted to the rank of rear-admiral; he leaves there on the 20th instant for the river Plate, touching at Rio and all intermediate ports.”
If this statement be true he cannot be here for several weeks to come, and from his independence of all orders of the government, I can form no idea of what he will do when he gets here. I forbear further comment on his course hitherto. I have suffered too much from the humiliating position to which I have been subjected during the last eight months, all caused originally by his singular conduct—(as, but for that, the allies would never, as I believe, have interfered with my passage to Paraguay)—to speak of him except in terms that I might afterwards regret. I therefore forbear, not doubting that the subject has already received due consideration.
I am, sir, very truly, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.