Mr. Burton to Mr.
Seward
No. 241.]
Legation of the United States,
Bogota, June 5, 1866.
Sir: Señor Freyere, accredited by General
Prado, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Peru to
Colombia, arrived in this capital in January last, for the special
purpose of seeking the adhesion of the latter to the alliance of the
South Pacific republics against Spain. President Murillo, adopting the
course pursued towards himself, when he asked permission as Colombian
minister in Washington, declined to accept a representative from General
Prado before his authority had been confirmed by the Peruvian people, by
the organization of a popular government under a republican
constitution. Upon the expiration of President Murillo’s term, on the
first of April, Señor Freyere was received by the vice-president of
General Mosquera’s administration, Señor Rojas Garrido, then in charge
of the national executive power.
Señor Matta, the minister from Chili, who left here for Caracas in
December last, to request the co-operation of Venezuela with the allied
republics, a notice of which I gave in my No. 207, returned to this city
on the 3d instant, without having secured the object of his mission.
Venezuela will not join in the alliance, although the people and
Congress favor it. Colombia has, in effect, adopted the same course,
with the approval of the congress and people. I understand, [Page 535] from a reliable source, that
the central republics will not go beyond an expression of sympathy for
the other republics engaged in the contest.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
P. S.—Since writing the above despatch the Colombian government has
declared absolute neutrality in the war between Spain and the
Pacific republics, as will be seen from the circular in Diario
Oficial No. 662, a translation of which is hereto attached, marked
E.
E.
[Circular.—Translation.]
United States of Colombia, Department
of the Interior and Foreign Relations–National Executive Power,
Section first–Number 11–Department of Foreign
Affairs.
In consequence of the deplorable events on the coast of the Pacific
by reason of the war between the republics of Chili and Peru, and
the government of Spain, the grand general, Tomas C. de Mosquera,
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from Colombia in
Europe, in one of the conferences had with Lord Clarendon, foreign
minister of her Britannic Majesty, manifested that in the war
indicated, Colombia would keep the same neutrality as England,
agreeable to the principles of international law.
Consequently the grand general has ordered the observance of the
following course of conduct by all the authorities of the United
States of Colombia, and he therefore addresses this order to the
government of the State, that the following direction may be
strictly observed:
1st. No assistance shall be given to either of the billigerents to
troops, arms, boats, munitions of war, money, or any other articles
which may be directly used in the war.
2d. As to that which has no relation with the war, nothing will be
refused to one of the belligerents that is conceded to the other,
provided that the same be not in conflict with the friendly and
commercial preferences for the Pacific republics based on existing
treaties or private reasons of convenience.
3d. The transit of troops over the territory of. the republic will
not be permitted to either of the belligerents, neither the
disembarcation of prisoners, nor the bringing into it of prizes of
war, before condemnation.
4th. Neither will the vessels of war of the belligerents be allowed
shelter in the ports, gulfs, or creeks, with the object of lying in
watch for the enemy’s vessels that may pass, or to send their
vessels to capture them.
5th. No merchant vessels arriving at points of the republic bound for
the theatre of war will be permitted to obtain provisions or other
necessaries except sufficient for the voyage, calculating the
consumption according to the days necessary to make the trip in
order that upon their arrival at their destination they will be
unable to furnish aid to the belligerents.
6th. Finally, all other precepts which the rights of nations
establish for neutrals will be faithfully observed. The grand
general president expects that these instructions will be complied
with, and to this end the secretary of the government, to whom I
have the honor to address myself, will please give notice of this
communication to the president of the State.
JOSÉ MARIA ROJAS GARRIDO.
Mr. Secretary General
of the Government of the Sovereign State
of——.
G.
[Translation.]
UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA, DEPARTMENT
OF THE INTERIOR AND FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The undersigned, secretary of the interior and foreign relations of
the United States of Colombia, has the honor to address the
honorable Mr. Burton, minister resident of the United States of
America, for the purpose of making known to his honor that the
Colombian Union [Page 536] assumes
the character of neutrality in the war that Spain is making with
some of the American republics, according to the declaration made by
the Colombian government and contained in the circular of this
department to the government of the States, of the Union, dated the
9th of the present month, and inserted in number 662 of the “Diario
Oficial,” of which the undersigned has the honor to annex to this
communication a duly authenticated copy.
The undersigned improves this opportunity to renew to the honorable
Mr. Burton the assurances of the distinguished consideration and
esteem with which he has the honor to be his very attentive
servant,
Hon. Mr. Allan A, Burton, Minister Resident of the
United States of America, &c., & c., & c.
H.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United States of
America, Bogota,
June 23,
1866.
The undersigned, minister resident of the United States of America,
has had the honor to receive the attentive communication addressed
him by his excellency Señor José M. Rojas Garrido, secretary of the
interior and foreign relations of the United States of Colombia, on
the 19th instant, announcing that the Colombian government had
assumed the attitude of neutrality in the war existing between Spain
and certain American republics, as defined by a circular from his
excellency’s department, dated on the 9th instant, and published in
the “Diario Oficial,” No. 662.
Duly appreciating this courtesy on the part of his excellency, the
undersigned will hasten to place this interesting information within
the knowledge of his government.
The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to repeat to his
excellency the assurances of his highest consideration and
regard.
His Excellency Señor José M. Rojas Garrido, Secretary of the Interior and Foreign Relations,
&c., &
c., & c.
