No. 71.
Mr. Partridge to Mr. Fish.
Rio de Janeiro, April 13, 1875. (Received May 21.)
Sir: The minister of foreign affairs sent me a note verbal a few days ago to attend a conference at the ministerio on the 12th.
On going there yesterday I found that the charges of England, France and Italy were also invited. The Visconde de Caravellas stated that the representatives of the United States, England, and France had been invited, as those powers had treaties with the Argentines (1853) for the free navigation of the affluents of the River La Plata; and that the representative of Italy had been invited because of the great number of Italians and extent of Italian interests in Buenos Ayres and in Montevideo; since the effect of the late measure of this last in monetizing their internal debt (paying it-off in irredeemable paper) was also to be considered.
The Visconde de Caravellas then said that the continued work of arming and fortifying the island of Martin Garcia constituted an impediment to the free navigation of the river, and, in the opinion of this government, was a plain violation of their treaty with Brazil, as well as of the treaties with the United States, England, and France; and his object in asking this conference was to see if the representatives here of those powers could by any representations to their own governments, or to their colleagues in the River Plate, induce the Argentines to refrain from further violation by such fortifying, &c.
Some informal conversation ensued in which I contented myself with asking only a question or two, to ascertain what was the expectation or intention of this government; since I thought the best rule of conduct, at such conferences—when not armed with instructions—was to hear as much and to say as little as possible.
As no one appears willing to give any assurance that those governments would interfere in any way, the Visconde finally asked if those present were willing to make such representations to their governments and colleagues at the river as might induce the Argentines to refrain [Page 110] from further armaments. I understood the others to say that they were willing, and I said that, while I would not undertake to invite or promise any action of the United States Government, or of my colleagues at the river, and could not pretend to instruct them in the matter, I had no objections to write, and would write, a private unofficial note to Mr. Osborn and to Mr. Caldwell, informing them of the conference, and what had been proposed. I therefore wrote such private note to each of them, telling them of this conference, and adding that, if each of them could, in accordance with their respective instructions and their own views of what was proper and useful, represent to those governments these views of Brazil in relation to those acts, (the arming of Martin Garcia and the monetization of the internal debt,) perhaps they might do a friendly service to those governments, and contribute to the maintenance of a friendlier feeling between these countries.
This whole matter is only a repetition of what was reported in No. 148,* (January 23, 1874,) in the annexes to which will be found the treaties, &c., relating to this matter. I bear in mind also the Department’s No. 98, in reply thereto, and so continue to suppose that the arming of the island is of itself no infraction of the treaty. The wish of Brazil appears to be to persuade other governments to attempt to accomplish what no representations or arming of her own has been able to do, viz, to frighten the Argentines from this fortifying, which Brazil insists is a special violation of her treaty with the Argentine Republic, Art. XVIII. (See inclosure 4 in No. 148.)†
The new Argentine minister to Brazil (Dr. Tejedor) is expected to arrive here on the 19th or 20th of April, and I have no doubt there will be a very friendly settlement of all existing questions between these countries.
I am, &c.,