No. 15.
Mr. Garcia
to Mr. Evarts.
Washington, March 25, 1878. (Received March 25.)
Mr. Secretary of State: According to the stipulations of Article 8, of the treaty of limits between the Argentine Republic and that of Paraguay, I have the honor to present the memorandum and the documentary evidence of the sovereign rights of my government to the territory comprised between the Verde, Paraguay, and Pilcomayo Rivers. In this memorandum will be found a historical discussion of the section of the Chaco, situated south of this latter river, from its principal branch; this zone is no longer a subject of dispute, according to the aforesaid treaty of limits. Thus the territory which is submitted to the decision of the President embraces, to the north of the principal branch of the Pilcomayo, 25° 20′ south latitude, according to the plan of Mouehez, as far as the Rio Verde, 23° 10′ south latitude, including the Villa Occidental; this territorial area being bounded by the Paraguay River on the east.
The task of the plenipotentiaries who are charged with the defense of the respective claims of the two countries being confined to the simple presentation of memorandums, documents, plans and references, this one is limited to a refutation of the arguments advanced by Mr. Miranda in behalf of Paraguay in the counter-memorandum of 1873, and by Mr. Falcon in 1871.
I have considered a translation of all the documents unnecessary or superfluous, contenting myself with indicating the main points; others are sent in Spanish, especially those of reference, the translation of which I have not thought indispensable. I am ready, however, to give such explanations as may be deemed necessary, and to supply the complement of the proofs that may be required, as also to furnish any authentications or translations that may be designated.
The memorandum consists of 155 folios, and the accompanying documents of 314. The maps which illustrate the memorandum are the following: No. 1, map of the Vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres, by Don Felix de Azara; No. 2, map of the Vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres, by Don Miguel de Lastarria; No. 3, map of Paraguay, by E. Mouchez, lieutenant in the French navy; No. 4, map of the Chaco, and of Paraguay, by Azara; No. 5, chorographic map of the Vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres,, by Lastarria; No. 6, extract from the map of South America, by Don Francisco Requena; No. 7, extract from the general map of South America, by Don Juan de la Cruz Cano y Olmedilla. Maps 2 and 5, made by Lastarria, are exhibited only temporarily, a duly authenticated photographic copy having been ordered to take the place of those now sent.
I also take the liberty of adding the following works, which are referred to in the text: “Limits between Paraguay and the Argentine Republic,” by Messrs. Saravia and Trelles, 1 vol., 2d; “Posthumous Memoirs of Don Felix de Azara on the agricultural condition of Rio de la Plata,” 1 vol., 3d; Memoirs (Report?) of the ministry of foreign relations of the Argentine Republic, 1874–1876, 2 vols., 4th; “Our Bolivian Frontier,” by Juan M. Sequizaman, 1 vol., 5th; “Extract from the papers of Father Francisco Aman Gonzales,” copied from the manuscript annexed to that of Don Miguel de Lastarria, entitled “Eastern Colonies of the [Page 18] Rio de la Plata,” National Library of Paris, section of Spanish manuscripts, Nos. 170 and 171, Supplement F, 1486, and numbers 6, 7, and 8.
I avail, &c.,