[Extract.]
Mr. Asboth to Mr.
Seward
No. 18.]
Legation of the United States,
Buenos Ayres,
March 25, 1867.
Sir: In connection with my reports Nos. 14 and
16, (current series,) I beg leave to inform you that I am still without
any definite answer from the Argentine government to the propositions
submitted by you on the part of the United States government to each of
the belligerents in the Paraguay war, for the re-establishment of peace,
and which were forwarded to the Argentine minister for foreign affairs
on the 6th of February last in my note No. 5, a full copy of which I had
the honor to lay before you in my report of the 8th ultimo, marked No.
12.
I have, however, had personal visits both from Señor Britto, the
Brazilian minister plenipotentiary, and from Señor de Elizalde, the
Argentine minister for foreign affairs, in which they have assured me of
their anxiety that an early answer should be sent to the friendly offer
of the United States, and that the delay is owing to the time required
to procure the concurrence of all the allies.
I was moreover assured by Señor de Elizalde, five days ago, in presence
of Minister Costa, that the answer prepared by the former had been
approved by all the parties concerned and required only the formal
signature of General Flores, for which purpose it had been sent to
Montevideo.
Meanwhile the mass of the people is greatly preoccupied by the mediation
question, and the leading papers are continually treating on the
subject, as you will please find in enclosure A, the continuation of my
daily memoranda of political events in the River Plate from the 12th to
the 25th instant.
* * * * * * * *
[Page 151]
The United States steamer Wasp, which left this on the 10th instant with
despatches for our minister in Paraguay, has not yet returned; but Mr.
Watson, secretary to the British legation here, arrived a few days ago
from the allied camp, and informed me that he had met Mr. Washburn at
the Marquis de Caxias’s headquarters, in good health and spirits. Mr.
Watson handed me three official despatches for your department from Mr.
Washburn, which I have the honor herewith to forward; also a letter from
Mr. Washburn to myself, dated Paso Pucu, March 11th, continued and
concluded at Tuyuti March 13th, in which he acknowledges receipt of my
letter of 18th December last, with official despatches from your
department, and complains of having received no further information,
which is certainly through no fault or neglect of mine, as my several
reports to your department referring to Paraguay will explain.
On the 16th February some official despatches from your department for
Mr. Washburn were sent to me from our consulate. I at once made a
request to Rear-Admiral Godon, off Montevideo, for a steamer to enable
me to exchange despatches and communicate in person with our minister on
the Paraguayan lines, a full copy of which request I had the honor to
forward embodied in my report of 25th February, marked No. 14, but it
was only on the 2d instant that the United States steamer Wasp,
Lieutenant Commander Kirkland commanding, arrived at this port with
special instructions from the admiral “only to carry despatches.” My
report of the 12th instant, marked No. 16, explains that I neglected
nothing in order to secure her speedy departure, and that she eventually
sailed on the 10th instant up the river Plata towards Paraguay, carrying
not only the despatches above alluded to, but also all others which
arrived here during the month of January, and were forwarded without my
knowledge from the consulate up to Corrientes, from whence, not having
been allowed to pass the lines, they were returned to Buenos Ayres, and
sent to me.
In my official letter to Mr. Washburn accompanying the above despatches
from your department, I informed him about everything worthy of notice
bearing on the pending question of mediation, and furnished him at the
same time with full copies of my correspondence with the Argentine
minister for foreign affairs relative to this subject, and I confidently
hope that he will also in return give me by the Wasp all proper
information on the matter.
From Mr. Washburn’s letter to me I beg to transcribe the two following
quotations:
1st. When I communicated to the Paraguayan government the facts in regard
to the mediation, it was not disposed to reject it, but unless the
mediation was accepted on the other side it would avail nothing.
2d. I asked Marquis de Caxias if he had any news of your coming up or
sending up to communicate with me. He said yes; he had received a letter
from Buenos Ayres that you were coming, but that our admiral had not
approved of it. I asked who our admiral now was, and he said Godon, and
went and found the letter, from which he read to this effect: That the
United States minister had expressed his desire to communicate with me
and was coming himself on a war vessel, or at least desired to come, but
that they (the authors of the letter) having had a confidential interview with the admiral, had arranged it so
that you were not to come, but instead an ensign from the squadron was
to be sent to communicate with me.
To these I may add that the authors of the above mentioned letter to
Marquis de Caxias were the two ministers of Brazil in the river
Plata.
I had the honor to lay before you my correspondence with Rear-Admiral
Godon, in connection with my intended interview with our minister to
Paraguay, in my reports Nos. 14 and 16, and beg now to enclose herewith
for your information, marked C, a copy of my last letter to him on the
subject, dated 23d instant.
In conclusion I venture again to repeat my conviction that Brazil, by
still interposing delay to the United States’ offer of mediation, is
only endeavoring to gain time to allow the Marquis de Caxias to strike a
last and, as is hoped, decisive blow at Paraguay. The principal object
of my intended interview
[Page 152]
with
Mr. Washburn was to check, if possible, the further effusion of blood
and prevent the additional complications of the already much distressed
affairs in the La Plata and Parana republics, which must inevitably
arise from the continuance of a war destructive of
commerce and injurious and prejudical to republican
institutions.
Without comment from myself I am thankful to leave to your judgment the
consideration that the United States admiral commanding on this coast of
South America should, under the present serious circumstances, have
deemed it not inconsistent with his duty to hold such communication with
the Brazilian ministers here as to afford ground for the report that he
had so arranged with them that I should not hold the personal interview
I desired with Mr. Washburn.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Daily memorandum of political events in the
River Plata from the 12th to the 25th March, 1867.
March 12.—The state of the city of Cordova is
described as most deplorable. There is perfect anarchy in all social
and political circles. During carnival some parties got a Brazilian
flag and dragged it in a most unbecoming manner through the streets,
with the evident approbation of all beholders.
March 13.—The San José steam transport from
Rio de Janeiro, with a contingent of 300 Brazilian soldiers for
Paraguay, arrived yesterday in Montevideo.
Although the news received to-day from the interior state that the
revolution makes no progress, every mail teems with accounts of the
atrocities committed by the insurgents. Two inoffensive English
gentlemen, while driving a troop of their own mules through the
province of San Juan, were robbed of all they possessed and
afterwards barbarously murdered. In the town of San Juan several
houses of respectable citizens have been entered by bands of
ruffians, who, after slaughtering the male inmates, violated the
women and carried away all they could lay their hands on. The
authorities seem to be neither willing nor able to restrain these
disorders.
March 14.—On the evening of the 12th instant
the English mail steamer Arno arrived at Montevideo. Among her
passengers is Don Andres Lamas, oriental minister in Brazil, who is
said to come on a special mission of peace.
The Proveedor arrived to-day from the seat of war. She brings news of
another fierce bombardment of Curupaiti. The place, however, still
holds out, though if the Brazilian ammunition does not fail it must
eventually give in. Marquis de Caxias is said to be building a
church and a theatre to celebrate the approaching great victory.
March 15.—In view of the prevalent abuses
committed by enlisting agents, the provincial government of Buenos
Ayres has issued a decree, dated the 13th instant, directing the
inspection of militias not to admit as “personeros” (substitutes)
foreigners who are not provided with a certificate from their
respective consul testifying his knowledge of their being about to
enlist. It would be very desirable that the national government
should also adopt some measure to put a stop to the unjustifiable
practices of recruiting agents, which give rise to endless
complaints.
March 16.—The Talac, arrived from Rosario
yesterday, brings news that there is considerable dissidence among
the insurgents in the provinces of Cuyo. A Chilian contingent has
mutinied and shot their leader. In Rosario the greatest enthusiasm
prevails for peace, and the soldiers that have come from Paraguay
declare that nothing will induce them to go back there.
March 17.—Dates from Rio de Janeiro of the 7th
instant report an approaching ministerial crisis, owing to the
impossibility of the present cabinet remaining in office with a
chamber formed of the deputies lately elected. It is not known
whether the present ministers will, on the assembling of the
chambers in May, resign or dissolve them. The liberating of the
blacks and mulattoes from slavery, under condition of serving in the
army, still continues, and the number of soldiers offered is
considerably increased since the government made it known that
important services of this nature would be rewarded by grants of
various honorary orders of the empire.
March 18.—Dictator Flores arrived here this
morning on his way back from the Uruguay river. He landed and held a
long conference with President Mitre. In the afternoon he
re-embarked and left for Montevideo.
[Page 153]
At Santa Candida, on the Uruguay, General Urquiza came on board the
steamer that was conveying General Flores, and had an interview with
him.
Baron de Bourgenay, the newly appointed French consul at Asuncion,
will leave shortly for his destination in a French man-of-war, to
replace Mr. Cochelet, who has been appointed French consul at
Richmond, United States.
March 19. The Esmeralda, arrived during the
night from the seat of war, brings news that Mr. Washburn, United
States minister in Paraguay, appeared on the Brazilian lines on the
11th instant under a flag of truce, accompanied by Señor Berges,
Paraguayan minister. Mr. Washburn was allowed to pass through to the
tent of the Marquis de Caxias, with whom he held a lengthened
interview. Mr. Washburn’s appearance in the allied camp gave rise to
various conjectures, the most prevalent being that of an armistice,
but on his withdrawing the Brazilians resumed their fire on the
Paraguayan lines, which dissipated all idea of a prompt cessation of
hostilities.
It is reported that Marshal Osorio, with 10,000 men, is approaching
Candelaria.
A contingent of 200 recruits from the province of Salta, while on
their way, in the national steamer Chacabuco, from Rosario to the
army at Tuyuti, mutinied about three leagues above Goya, on the
Chaco coast, and pillaging the steamer of all her arms and
provisions, lowered her boats and escaped into the Chaco.
March 20.—Dates from Rio de Janeiro of the
12th instant report the sailing, on the 9th instant, of the
transports Marquis de Caxias and Arino, with re-enforcements of 590
men to the Brazilian army invading Paraguay. There is great
discontent in Rio de Janeiro at the long protraction of the war. The
people in general, and some of the organs of the press, complain
that troops are constantly going forward, war stores and large
amounts of gold despatched to the Plata, but no results are
forthcoming from the seat of war.
It is now said that Marquis de Caxias is going to make a complete
change in his tactics, and that the great battle that is impending,
and for which preparations have been making for some time past, is
not to take place at Tuyuti, but somewhere else.
The Tribuna of to-day asserts, in a very positive manner, that a
conference took place on the 18th instant, between General Flores,
dictator of the Oriental Republic, General Mitre, president of the
Argentine Republic, with his five ministers, and Messrs. Britto and
Leal, Brazilian ministers, in which General Mitre and his ministers,
seconded by General Flores, argued that the mediation offered by the
United States ought to be accepted, omitting the conference of
plenipotentiaries at Washington, who might meet instead here, on
board an American man-of-war; but Mr. Britto insisted with tenacity
upon the rejection of the mediation, and after a lengthened debate
the opinion of the Brazilian minister prevailed.
March 21.—The Nation Argentina of to-day
denies in toto the above assertion of yesterday’s Tribuna.
It is stated on good authority that at the hospital in the island of
Curito, in the harbor of Montevideo, there are at present no less
than 3,000 sick Brazilian soldiers, while at Itapieu there are about
2,000 on the sick list, making a total of 5,000 men in hospital. The
Brazilians have at Curuzu 10,200 men, at Tuyuti 21,700, and 4,000 on
board the squadron, making a grand total of more than 40,000
men.
The Tribuna, in a leading article in to-day’s number, commenting upon
the mediation and its reception by the allies, believes that they
have come to the resolution of postponing for fifteen or twenty days
their answer, in order to give Marquis de Caxias time to realize the
warlike operations announced from Rio de Janeiro, and from the
allied camp. In fifteen days, more or less, the writer of the
article in question thinks that the Marquis de Caxias can attempt a
victory exclusively Brazilian, which would insure his being able to
exact conditions that might appear now exaggerated and ridiculous.
Although this does not imply the rejection of the mediation, its
immediate acceptance, however, is insisted up onby the Tribuna
without thereby entailing the suspension of active preparations, so
that incase the mediation should fail to secure what is sought and
what is just, the war may be carried on with vigor.
March 22.—The Cisne, arrived yesterday from
the seat of war, brings news that Marshal Osorio had crossed the
Uruguay on the 13th instant, and is now marching through the
Missiones, which is at least a three-weeks road.
In the allied camp the night attacks continue, and Curupaiti goes on
firing occasionally upon the allied lines, but no renewal of a
general attack has been made.
March 23.—Advices from General Paunero are up
to the 16th instant, at which date he was still in Rio Cuarto. The
division of Colonel Conesa, consisting of four battalions, had
incorporated itself with General Paunero’s army, and a council of
war had been held, at which it was resolved that the main body of
the army should begin its march to the insurgent provinces on the
19th of this month, leaving Colonel Conesa with his division in Rio
Cuarto to protect the rear. Colonel Videla, the commander-in-chief
of the rebel forces, was reported to be still in the town of San
Juan with a force variously estimated from 1,000 to 2,000 men. The
vanguard of the insurgent forces is said to be concentrating at a
place called Mercedes, in the province of San Luis, under the
leadership of Felipe Saa, the actual governor of that province; its
exact strength is not known, but supposed to be about 1,000 men.
March 24.—The fete champetre at General
Urquiza’s estancia of San José in Entre Rios, alluded to above, came
off on the 19th instant, and lasted three days. An enormous
concourse of visitors attended, and every day covers were laid for
800 guests at the general’s
[Page 154]
own table, while 2,000 more people were entertained in the
adjacent camps. The days were occupied by national sports, racing.
&c., and the evenings by dancing to a late hour. They say it had
no political character whatever, and was only a grand social and
convivial gathering on a scale unprecedented in this country. In
returning thanks for his health, General Urquiza said:
“Gentlemen, the motto I have placed over my door is ‘Paz, union,
fraternidad,’ and I earnestly hope that it may speedily become a
reality in the other Argentine provinces, as it is, happily, now in
Entre Rios. Instead of Argentines slaying their brethren, as at
present, with lance and spear, may they soon offer to each other the
olive-branch of peace.” [Long and enthusiastic applause.]
It is reported that the fete has cost the general not less than
£20,000 sterling.
The accounts from the seat of war in Paraguay report no particular
movement, but continue to show that great preparations are going on
for a decisive blow by the Brazilians, in which either Lopez will be
driven back and Humaita levelled, or the Brazilians repulsed, and
then it is supposed peace will be made.
March 25.—The Espigador, arrived yesterday
from Corrientes, brings news that although the Brazilian fleet
remains anchored in the same place, the greatest bustle and motion
reigns in the allied camp, owing to the Marquis de Caxias having
ordered 5,000 picked troops to ascend the river Parana, land in
Missiones, and await the arrival of Marshal Osorio, who is expected
on the banks of the Upper Parana by the end of next week. The river
was high, and the gunboats were taking the troops on board when the
steamer left,
Mr. Asboth to Admiral Godon
Legation of the United States,
Buenos Ayres,
March 23, 1867.
Sir: Although our war is over, and we are
happily at peace with all the world, I have been once more disabled
by an unfortunate accident, owing to which the imperfect union of an
old fracture of my left arm has given way, and I have to request
that you will be pleased to attribute to this accident my delay in
writing to you, and accept now, with forbearance, the following
information, viz:
On the 2d instant I received, through Lieutenant Commander Kirkland,
your third letter in answer to my note of the 16th of February last,
in which I made request for a steamer to enable me to communicate in
person with the Hon. Charles A. Washburn, on the Paraguayan lines.
In this letter you stated that you had ordered the Wasp, Lieutenant
Commander Kirkland, commanding, to Buenos Ayres, with instructions
to proceed, after receiving my despatches for our minister in
Paraguay, without delay, to Tuyuti, or wherever the headquarters of
the allied army may be, and deliver the despatches to Mr. Washburn,
detaining his vessel a reasonable time for any communication he (Mr.
Washburn) may have for the United States government or for
myself.
On the day that this reply reached me, after a personal conference
with the minister for foreign affairs, I addressed to him the
following note, viz:
“No .6.]
Legation of the United States, “
Buneos Ayres,
March 2, 1867.
“Sir: Rear-Admiral S. W. Godon, United
States navy, commanding South Atlantic squadron, has, at my request,
sent the United States steamer Wasp, Lieutenant Commander Kirkland,
commanding, from Montevideo to this harbor, with instructions to
receive my official despatches for the Hon. Charles A. Washburn,
United States minister in Paraguay, and to proceed, without delay,
to the headquarters of the allied armies, or to such a point up the
river as will enable him to deliver the despatches, of which he is
the bearer, to Mr. Washburn, in person, detaining his vessel a
reasonable time for any communications Mr. Washburn may have either
for the United States government or for myself.
“Of this arrangement I have the honor to inform herewith your
excellency, and beg to request at the same time that, on account of
the absence from headquarters of his excellency Brigadier General
Don Bartolome Mitre, President of the Argentine Republic, and
commander-in-chief of the allied armies against Paraguay, you may be
pleased to favor Lieutenant Commander Kirkland with such a letter of
introduction and safe conduct to the proper commanding officer in
the field as will insure the intended exchange of official
despatches with the minister resident of the United States in
Paraguay.
“I have the honor to be, sir, with distinguished consideration, your
obedient servant,
“His Excellency Señor Dr. Don Rufuino de
Elizalde, “Minister for Foreign
Affairs.”
[Page 155]
Owing to the three days’ carnival festivities, I received only on
the 8th instant the answer from the Argentine government,
complying in a satisfactory manner with my request, and
enclosing open orders to Marshal Marquis de Caxias to forward by
a flag of truce to the Paraguayan camp the official
communications, recommending him at the same time to allow the
bearer of the despatches to pass over to the enemy’s camp to
receive in return Mr. Washburn’s answer.
I at once informed Lieutenant Commander Kirkland of this result.
but as it was my original intention, besides the exchange of
official despatches with Mr. Washburn, to have also a personal
interview with him, and as neither of the three letters received
from you contained any direct answer touching this my desire, I
deemed it proper to request Commander Kirkland to inform me
whether his special instructions from you were in any way
conflicting with my intention to meet Mr. Washburn in person.
Commander Kirkland in his reply, received the 9th instant,
stated “that his instructions only require him to carry
despatches.” This answer, placing beyond any doubt that the
arrangements made by you were not calculated to facilitate my
purpose of conferring with Mr. Washburn in person, I transmitted
to Commander Kirkland on the same day, the 9th instant, the open
orders addressed to Marshal Marquis de Caxias by the Argentine
government in concurrence with the Brazilian legation and the
Oriental government, informing him (Commander Kirkland) at the
same time that the despatches could be ready the next morning at
8 o’clock.
Commander Kirkland, in his reply of the same date, stated that he
would send from his vessel an officer to receive at the
appointed hour the despatches from this legation.
The following morning, the 10th instant, Lieutenant Commander
Mitchell signed a receipt for the despatches, and half an hour
afterwards the United States steamer Wasp weighed anchor and
sailed up the river Plate towards Paraguay.
Thus, although the opportunity of meeting and conferring in
person with our minister in Paraguay on the important subject of
the pending mediation has not been afforded to me, I have to
thank you for having kindly lent your assistance in securing at
least a safe exchange of official despatches with the Hon.
Charles A. Washburn on the Paraguyan lines, the result of which
will, no doubt, be beneficial to all parties concerned.
I hope that you will be pleased kindly to accept this
communication, as also an explanation to the inquiry with which
you honored me under date of the 8th instant.
In conclusion I beg leave to inform you, that my report to the
State Department relative to the above subject was concluded as
follows:
“Although I feel well assured that the admiral is actuated, as I
am, by the same sincere desire to promote the best interests of
our government, nevertheless I deem it proper, while submitting
without comment our conflicting views to your decision, to
request at the same time that you may be pleased to define for
my future guidance the reciprocal duties and obligations
incumbent upon ministers resident and admirals abroad, under
similar circumstances.”
In making the above request I have been guided, not only by a
desire fully to do my duty, but also by my anxiety to avoid for
the future any unpleasantness that may arise to myself in
asking, and to others in refusing, compliance with what I had
not a right to expect.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
Rear-Admiral S. W. Godon,
United States Navy, Commanding South Atlantic
Squadron.
