Mr. Washburn to Señor Caminos.
Sir: On the 11th ultimo I had the honor to address a note to your predecessor. Honorable Gumesindo Benitez, in which, after a statement of facts which it is unnecessary here to recapitulate, I remarked that it appeared to me that the government of Paraguay ought either to accept my statement in good faith as true and drop the correspondence to which it related, or else send me my passports and provide me with the means of leaving the country, as I had requested in my note on the 14th of July. From that time to this I have received no other answer than your note of the 28th ultimo, in which your honor requests me to furnish you with a list of the members of my legation for whom I desire passports. The only inference from this is that the government accepts the first of the alternatives presented by me, and does not accept my statement as truthful. I am, therefore, greatly surprised that the passports have not been given me, as I furnished the list as requested on the day that I received your note. I therefore have occasion to repeat the request made in my note of July 14, that passports may be furnished me and the members of my legation, and such facilities for leaving the country be provided as comport with the character of an accredited minister, with as little delay as circumstances will permit.
I take this occasion to render assurances of distinguished consideration.
His Honor Luis Caminos, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs.