This country is greatly agitated in consequence of the continuance of the
fruitless war against Paraguay, and I have, therefore, to-day addressed
a note to the minister of foreign affairs, a copy of which you will find
inclosed, marked A.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Webb to Senhor Paranaguà.
Legation of the United
States,
Petropolis,
January 27, 1868.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
from the United States, has the honor to inform his excellency Joao
Lustoza da Cunha Paranaguà, councillor to his Imperial Majesty the
Emperor, minister and secretary of state for foreign affairs, that
he is in receipt of a dispatch from the Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State of the United States, in relation to the war
still pending between Brazil and her allies, against the republic of
Paraguay, which declares that “the continuance of the war on the La
Plata is a subject of deep concern in the United States.”
In conformity with instructions to that effect, the undersigned again
tenders to the belligerents the good offices of his government, and
renews the proposals for mediation which he had the honor to submit
on a previous occasion. And he is instructed to add, that while
renewing the proposals heretofore submitted by the government of the
United States in the interest of peace, the United States is neither
tenacious of its own views nor jealous of the good offices of
others. It belongs to the belligerent sovereign powers not only to
choose the terms of peace, but the forms which should be adopted to
secure it.
The undersigned is exceedingly desirous of avoiding everything which
might, by possibility, be construed into a desire on the part of his
government to intervene in the affairs of the different governments
on the American continent. But the people of the United States have
declared, through their representatives in Congress, that the
pending war in the La Plata “is destructive of commerce and
injurious and prejudicial to republican institutions,” and the
government of the United States, in obedience to instructions from
Congress, renewed in February last, in the most formal manner, the
tender of its good offices. When those good offices were declined,
the undersigned was directed to “express to the imperial government
the regret of the President and people of the United States, that
the allies do not find it compatible with their rights and interests
to avail themselves of the good offices of the United States, which
were conceived in a spirit of entire respect and friendship for the
several belligerents, and an earnest desire for the restoration of
peace throughout the American continent.” And Mr. Seward added:
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“Not at all wedded to their own proposition, which has thus been
disallowed, the United States will yet indulge a hope that the
wisdom of the belligerent states will be competent to devise means,
within a reasonable period, which may enable them to afford to their people the advantages and benefits
of peace. Such measures being devised, any good offices that may be at any time required of the
United States will be cheerfully rendered.”
Another year of war has elapsed without apparently bringing the
contest any nearer to a termination, and again the undersigned is
instructed to tender the good offices of his government, and to
inform Brazil “that the continuance of the war on the La Plata is the subject of deep concern in the United
States.”
The undersigned perceives with great regret the injurious effects of
the pending war upon the labor, the commerce, the finances, and the
general resources of the Brazilian empire, and he would be
neglectful of his duty if he did not keep the government of
Washington advised of these matters, and of the tone of public
sentiment in regard to the war; at the same time that he fully
exonerates Brazil from all responsibility in its occurrence, and
most earnestly sympathizes with her in its continued protraction and
most disastrous consequences. Deeply impressed with the expediency,
if not the necessity, of an early termination of the war to Brazil,
the undersigned experiences great satisfaction in renewing to Brazil
the offer of the good offices of the government of the United States
and the personal services of the undersigned, whenever they “may be
at any time required,” to bring to a successful issue any “measures
devised” in the interest of peace, and calculated to benefit the
people of the belligerents to this most disastrous war on the La
Plata. The dangers to all parties from a continuance of the struggle
are palpable, while the very serious consequences to the finances,
commerce, labor, and future prosperity of Brazil are no longer
matters of conjecture, but monstrous evils, absolutely present and
brought home to the daily experience of all. That Brazil is, and has
been, right from the beginning, no candid and intelligent man can
for a moment doubt. But, whether right or wrong, the tax of this war
upon the labor of Brazil, which is her one
great want, cannot fail to check her
prosperity for years to come; while its exhaustive strain upon her
finances and future resources demands its termination at the
earliest day compatible with the honor of the empire.
There are other considerations in favor of an early termination of
the war, obvious to your excellency and the statesmen of Brazil, but
to which it would be unbecoming in the undersigned to refer. It is
manifest, however; that the people and the governments of the great
commercial nations of the world are getting restive at the too
probable continuance of a state of things in this region which
promises no results. And while the government of the United States
disclaims the remotest intentions of any, the slightest,
interference with the purposes and actions of the belligerents, it
may not shrink from conveying to Brazil the voice of its people,
proclaimed through their Congress, that “the continuance of this war
is a subject of deep concern,” and that it is absolutely
“destructive to commerce, and injurious and prejudicial to
republican institutions.”
The undersigned is happy to avail himself of this occasion to renew
to your excellency the expression of his great personal esteem and
most distinguished consideration.
His Excellency Joao Lustoza da Cunha
Paranaguà,
Councillor to his Imperial Majesty, Minister
and Secretary of State for War, acting as Minister of
Foreign Affairs.