Mr. Hovey to Mr. Seward
Sir: On the 18th instant the diplomatic corps waited upon Colonel Prado, and paid their compliments to him as constitutional President of Peru.
[Page 777]They were then invited to a lunch, at which many sentiments were proposed, the only one possessing importance being the following, given by the President in regard to Chili and Peru:
I have invited you, gentlemen, to drink to Chili on her natal day. I drink to the prosperity of Chili identified with that of Peru, and even were this not so, I would always drink for the well-being of that republic, a very dear sister of our own. It would not be strange should some bad feelings arise between the two, but the governments prepared to resist them will cause them to disappear before the honor, interest, and sympathy which now unite the two countries.
I should not have presented this point to the government but from the fact that I believe a very considerable degree of bad feeling exists between Peru and Chili, which may lead eventually to serious troubles between the two countries.
I do not, at the present time, understand the cause of this ill feeling, but presume it has arisen from the war with Spain.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.