No. 122.
Mr. Osborn
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Santiago,
Chili, September 13, 1880.
(Received November 4.)
No. 165.]
Sir: Responding to your instruction No. 100, I have
the honor herewith to inclose an English translation of the note received by
me in February last from the minister of foreign relations regarding an
exchange of prisoners with Bolivia, as also a copy of my reply thereto.
* * * * * * *
I am, &c.,
[Page 135]
[Inclosure 1 in No.
165.—Translation.]
Mr. Amuñátegui to
Mr. Osborn.
Republic of Chili, Department of Foreign
Relations,
Valparaiso, February 20,
1880.
Sir: The government of Chili is desirous of
ransoming some soldiers which Bolivia has made prisoners in unimportant
encounters that have taken place between the scouts of our respective
armies.
At present we have many Bolivian prisoners from which we would give the
number necessary to ransom those which they have belonging to us.
Convinced of the benevolent sentiments that animate you, my government
has believed that perhaps it could count upon your friendly assistance
in bringing about an exchange of all the Chilian prisoners which are in
Bolivia for a corresponding number of those which we have in Chili.
In case there should be no objection on your part to assist in carrying
into effect this proposition, I would venture to request that you should
be pleased to solicit in our name the co-operation of your worthy
colleague in La Paz.
As soon as a favorable response shall be received from you, I will be
careful to send to you the list of Bolivian prisoners that we now have,
so that the exchange can be perfected in La Paz.
I improve the occasion, &c.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 165.]
Mr. Osborn to Mr.
Amuñátegui.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, Chili, February 23, 1880.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your estemed note of the 20th instant, wherein your
excellency is pleased to solicit the aid of this legation, as also that
of my colleague in La Paz, in securing an exchange of prisoners of war
with Bolivia.
Your excellency can rest assured that such aid as it may be in my power
to render to your excellency’s government in this connection will be
most cheerfully given, and I shall avail myself of the first mail which
leaves for the north to communicate with the United States legation in
La Paz on the subject, pursuant to the suggestion contained in your
note.
It is possible, and I fear even probable, that my colleague in La Paz,
Judge Pettis, has not yet returned from his home in the United States,
whence he went in November last. He expected to return about this time,
but I am as yet unadvised of his having reached his post. Nor have I,
since his departure, had any correspondence with his legation, and I am
quite ignorant regarding the person in whose hands it has been left. I
judge, however, that the legation was placed in charge of some competent
person, and that even though my colleague shall not have returned, my
communication, upon its arrival in La Paz, will receive proper
attention.
With sentiments of the highest consideration, &c.
