I enclose a brief statement of an “unofficial” conversation held with
General Prado, the provisional President of Peru; and I have the honor
to be your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Conversation between General Prado and the United States
Minister.
Sir: I have the honor to report that
General Prado, the “provisional chief” of this republic, paid me an
informal and private visit last evening, and to transmit to you a
brief summary of the conversation which ensued.
After the usual courtesies, General Prado said it afforded him much
pleasure to note the sympathy of the people of the United States
with Peru and Chili, as manifested in the tone of their public
journals. He then expressed his surprise at the “coldness” of Mr.
Seward in delaying to recognize the present government of Peru.
I hastened to assure General Prado of the continued and earnest
friendliness of the government and people of the United States for
their sister republics of the south, and accounted for any seeming
tardiness in the recognition of his government by mine by begging
him to consider the importance of the step, and the necessity for
all careful deliberation. I reminded him, moreover, of the fact of
your late absence from Washington, and of the impossibility of any
important measure of policy being determined at the State Department
without your personal decision upon its expediency.
[Page 631]
General Prado then adverted to the arrest of Señor Vicuña Mackenna,
the Chilian agent at New York, and expressed his fear lest the
shipment might, be shopped of certain munitions destined for this
country.
To this I replied that the United States were at present in peaceful
relations with the government of Spain, and could, of course, permit
no open breach of their obligations to that country; reminding him,
further, of our very large claims against Great Britain now pending
for this very breach of neutrality law.
I further directed his attention to the very culpable indiscretion of
Señor Mackenna, in publicly avowing his intentions and purposes,
when he must have known them to be in direct violation of our
established and recognized laws.
General Prado expressed himself gratified with my views, and the
conversation terminated.
I have the honor to be your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Washington, D. C.
