Mr. Hovey to Mr.
Seward
No. 78.]
Legation of the United States, Lima,
Peru,
July 14, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the
copy and translation of a despatch received, on the 6th instant, from
his excellency the minister of foreign
[Page 772]
affairs, informing me of a law passed by the
congress of Peru, obliging the executive to continue the war against
Spain, and at the same time sending me a copy of the said law, which I
likewise transmit, with translation.
This information was laid before the department by me, in my despatch of
May 28th, 1867, No. 68, but I am now informed of it officially for the
first time.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Señor Osorio to Mr. Honey
No. 36.]
Lima,
July 5, 1867.
Your excellency knows how gratefully the Peruvian government received
the good offices of the President of the United States in our
questions with Spain, and also how willingly it accepted the
proposition to hold an international conference of the belligerents
in Washington; but bound by a treaty of alliance, Peru could not, by
herself alone, accept definitively the offer made by the United
States, but had, naturally, to consult her allies. Since then the
constituent congress, charged with the supreme direction of the
affairs of the country, have passed a law which binds the executive
power to a line of conduct to be followed in the pending questions
with Spain.
This is now the rule that Peru must obey, and consequently is also
that which the executive must regard as the standard of its
conduct.
The provisional president, convinced of the interest felt by the
government of the United States in everything affecting Peru,
desires to give also a proof of consideration and frank friendship
to the government of the United States, acquainting it with these
ideas and the law of June 13th, a copy of which I enclose to your
excellency, and beg that it may be transmitted with this note to his
excellency the Secretary of State of the United States.
Giving my thanks, in anticipation, to your excellency, I beg to renew
my assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
His Excellency the Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.
[Translation.]
MARIANO I. PRADO, PROVISIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC.
Wherefore since congress has passed the following law :
The constituent congress declares the following law :
Article 1. The executive power will
continue the war against the government of Spain until the
legislative power may dictate a contrary resolution.
Art 2. Tho executive power cannot initiate
on its part any negotiations which may tend to suspend or cause to
suspend the state of war. Neither shall it sign treaties or the
preliminaries of treaties with Spain without the corresponding
instructions of the legislative.
Art. 3. That the law of September 9, 1864,
is hereby declared null, and likewise all laws of the republic in
opposition to this.
Let it be communicated to the executive power for compliance.
Given in the hall of sessions, Lima, 21st May, 1867.
JOSE JACINTO IBARRA, President.
Ambrosia Becerril, Secretary.
S. Garcia, Secretary.
The Provisional President of the
Republic.
Therefore let it be complied with, registered, and published.
Lima, June 13,
1867.
M. I. PRADO.
