Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 7, 1874

No. 53.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Shannon.

Department of State,
Washington, February 24, 1874.

No. 98.]

Sir: Your dispatch No. 148, of the 23d ultimo, relative to the arming of the island of Martin Garcia by the Argentine government, has been received. The statement which it contains of the stipulations of treaties upon the subject, is creditable to your diligence and intelligence. The Department is of the opinion that there is no legal right to require that government to desist from that proceeding, especially so long as it shall respect the provisions of its treaty with the United States of 1853, for the free navigation of the rivers of Parana and Uruguay.

I am, &c.,

HAMILTON FISH.