Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward

No. 79.]

Sir: Last evening I received a note from General Calonge, minister of state, requesting an interview with me at his room at 2 o’clock this afternoon. On going there I found, as I supposed I should, that his purpose was to have some conversation with regard to the offer of mediation recently made by the government of the United States between Spain and the republics of Chili, Peru, &c. The first question which he asked me was if I was authorized to agree or consent to any modification of the conditions of the conference proposed to be holden at Washington. I told him I had no authority in the premises at all further than to submit the proposal, and I had no authority or instruction to consent to any modification whatever. General Calonge then remarked that his answer had been delayed thus far by the pending of the offers of mediation heretofore made by England and France. That they had heard from both these powers, and Spain was now entirely free to accept or not the offer made by the United States. That they appreciated the same with gratitude, and were ready to accept it in principle, but that they felt it necessary to propose some modifications, not in substance, but in form, of the basis or condition of the conference proposed by the government of the United States to be holden at Washington, and he had hoped that I had authority for arranging that matter with him here. But I added, as that was not so, it occurred to me that the better, and indeed the only course to be pursued, was to communicate to you and await your answer.

What the modifications were which he desired to have made he did not explain, further than to say that they were formal, merely; and although he should have preferred that it might have been so that it could have been arranged here, still, in deference to your judgment, he was willing that it should be done either here or in Washington.

He further added that while Spain was ready to accept the proposed mediation of the United States in principle, and was ready to accept it entirely with the modifications which they might suggest, still, they held themselves entirely free to accept or decline the mediation then offered in case no modification should be assented to by the United States. I think I have now given you the substance of the conversation between General Calonge and myself; but that there may be no mistake, (and this despatch relates entirely to this interview,) I shall submit it to General Calonge before I send it.

January 30, 1867.

The above portion of this despatch, as I suggested I should, I submitted to General Calonge for his inspection, and I send herewith, marked A, a copy of my note to him accompanying the same. To-day, the 30th, I received the same from him, with an accompanying note, a copy of which, with a translation thereof, I also herewith enclose. I have lost no time in sending you all that has occurred in relation to this matter as fast as it has come to my knowledge. I do not know that I exactly and fully comprehend the precise import of all of General Calonge’s letter, but as I send both the original and the translation, you can form your own judgment in the premises.

In regard to the translation which I send you of it, I will remark that I am not entirely satisfied with that of the second modification proposed by him, nor do I think that the idea which he intends to convey is very explicitly expressed in the Spanish. If I may venture an opinion as to the sense intended to be conveyed, it is this, viz.: he wants to propose some restrictions in regard to the person or State to be selected as umpire or arbitrator, which arises, I apprehend, [Page 521] from the disinclination of Spain to have any of the South American States, formerly her colonies, selected as an arbitrator in this war between herself, Peru, Chili, &c. I may be mistaken, but I think I am not. The copy of General Calonge’s letter enclosed herewith is marked B, and the translation C.

With much respect, I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

JOHN P. HALE.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

A.

Mr. Hale to General Calonge

The minister of the United States has the honor of submitting to the minister of state the rough draught of a despatch to the Secretary of State of the United States, in order to ascertain if he has correctly stated the purport of the interview he had the honor to have with him yesterday. If there are any statements which the minister of state deems important to be made, and which are omitted, Mr. Hale will be glad to add them upon suggestion of what they are.

Mr. Hale will be much obliged if the minister of state will examine the enclosed as far as he wishes, and return the same to him this evening, if practicable, as it is desirable that it be sent to Washington by to-morrow’s mail.

Mr. Hale hopes the minister of state will pardon him if he suggests that it may have a tendency to facilitate and hasten the conclusion of this matter if he deems it practicable to furnish, in writing, the nature of the modifications which the government of her Catholic Majesty will propose to the propositions of the United States, so that they may be submitted to Mr. Seward with the despatch which Mr. Hale proposes to send him to-morrow.

Mr. Hale improves the present occasion for renewing to General Calonge the assurances of his most distinguished consideration.

C.

[Translation.]

General Calonge to Mr. Hale

The minister of state of her Catholic Majesty has the honor to return, enclosed herewith, to the minister plenipotentiary of the United States in Spain the draught of a despatch which Mr. Hale is about to send to the Secretary of State of the United States, and in which there is accurately related the conference which took place between them on the 28th of the present month.

General Calonge desires that Mr. Hale shall represent, in the most explicit manner, that the government of her Catholic Majesty not only is disposed to accept, but that at once she accepts, in principle, the mediation proposed by the government of the United States, provided that in the form in which it is offered there may be introduced, by common consent, some modifications which she thinks indispensable to the better direction of the conference and for its most speedy termination.

General Calonge, receiving with the consideration which they merit the suggestions of Mr. Hale, is ready to declare that the government of her Majesty, besides accepting, in principle and at once, as he has just informed him, the mediation of the United States, accepts also the time fixed, viz., the 1st of April, for the meeting of the conference of the plenipotentiaries of all the belligerents for treating on the matters or points which directly have produced the state of war which actually exists between Spain and the American republics of the Pacific.

She also agrees that the said conference shall be holden in Washington, as it is proposed; also she agrees that the said conference shall be presided over in the manner proposed, by the individual designated by the President of the United States; further, she admits the proposition for the appointment of the plenipotentiaries which are to constitute the conference, and the manner in which they are to act in it among themselves with respect to their own several governments; further, she accepts at once the armistice which is proposed to last during the existence of the conference, and that the points upon which the plenipotentiaries shall not be able to agree shall be submitted to an arbitration, binding upon all parties.

[Page 522]

The few modifications, then, which the government of her Catholic Majesty desires to have admitted, and which she thinks indispensable for its complete symmetry (conformidad,) may be stated thus: 1st. To fix with precision a period from which only there shall be submitted to the conference the facts from which the present war originates, upon which, and none others, shall there be a submission to arbitrament, in case the plenipotentiaries are not able to agree among themselves. 2d. To affix some conditions in respect to the arbitrator, and that the president shall be at liberty freely to select him from the foreigners or states who possess these conditions or qualifications. Finally, General Calonge desires to inform Mr. Hale that while in the seventh article of the propositions made by the government of the United States an armistice is established from the time of the acceptance by the belligerents of the terms proposed, the government of her Majesty have no difficulty in agreeing that the armistice may commence immediately from the time in which Mr. Hale shall communicate to his government, without prejudicing the right of treating preliminarily on the modifications which Spain proposes, and those also which possibly other of the belligerents may have sought, by which means humanity will be the gainer, as well as the other great interests compromised by the war.

General Calonge improves this occasion for reiterating to Mr. Hale the assurances of his most distinguished consideration.

The Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.