No. 21.
Mr. Osborn
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Buenos
Ayres, July 6, 1880. (Received August
5.)
No. 288.]
Sir: I have just sent you a telegram saying,
“Peace. General government supreme.”
* * * * * * *
And, more in detail, I have now the honor to inform you that hostilities
[Page 27]
between the national government and
the provincial authorities of Buenos Ayres have absolutely ceased. Governor
Tejedor has resigned as governor, and the legislature has accepted his
resignation. The lieutenant-governor is acting governor, and accepts the
situation. This port was opened this morning. The provincial troops are
being disarmed, the barricade removed, and the streets repaired.
On the 22d of June, after it was found that the battle of the 21st, referred
to in my No. 287, was much more decisive than at first supposed, that the
provincial forces had been badly defeated and driven into the city, and that
the city had been absolutely inclosed by the national forces, a committee
called on me and presented a petition, signed by a large portion of the
commercial community, asking me to mediate between the contending parties in
behalf of the lives and property of the citizens of all nationalities.
After giving the petition due consideration, and knowing that while it would
not be offensive to the national government it might afford the provincial
authorities a way out of their desperate situation, I addressed a note, a
copy of which I have the honor to inclose herewith, marked A, to the
minister of foreign affairs, and at the same time I addressed the same note
unofficially to the government of the province, tendering my good offices,
copies of the reply of the minister and governor to which I have the honor
to inclose herewith, marked B and C.
After the battle of the 21st, General Mitré was appointed by Governor Tejedor
commander-in-chief for the defense of Buenos Ayres. On the 24th, Mitré
proceeded to Belgrano with a letter from Tejedor to the president, offering
to surrender, and asking for terms. The president refused to see General
Mitré, but his minister of interior received him and replied that the
national authorities demanded that Governor Tejedor should resign as
governor; that the provincial forces should be disarmed and the arms
deposited in the national arsenal, and absolute submission on the part of
the provincial authorities to the general government under the constitution,
and all questions relating to the presidential election to be submitted to
Congress.
These terms were finally accepted and are now being carried out.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure A with No. 288.]
Mr. Osborn to Don
B. Zorrilla.
Legation of the United States,
Buenos Ayres, June 22,
1880.
Sir: The undersigned, minister of the United
States, has the honor of addressing your excellency, with no spirit to
interfere with the domestic affairs of the country, hut with the object
simply of tendering his good offices in the present conflict between the
provincial authorities of Buenos Ayres and the national government. In
so doing he is prompted not only by the sentiments of humanity inherent
in all, quickened not only by the blood already spilt, by the traditions
of his country’s policy, and by a conviction that a further sacrifice of
life and property may be avoided by an arrangement honorable to both
parties, but also by a direct appeal in writing to him by a large and an
influential part of the commercial community of all nationalities.
Your excellency is earnestly desired to give such attention to these
communications as its object, in your estimation, warrants. Its prompt
consideration may probably avert further bloodshed—bloodshed of
Argentine citizens by Argentine citizens—and re-establish the harmony of
the powers of the nation on a constitutional basis.
At such a moment as your excellency may consider proper and designate,
and with the consent of both conflicting parties, to whom the present
note is simultaneously
[Page 28]
proffered, he shall have the greatest satisfaction in making effective
this offer of friendly mediation.
The undersigned has the honor to remain, &c., &c., &c.,
His Excellency Dr. Don B. Zorrilla,
Minister of the Interior and Acting Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
[Inclosure B.]
Señor Zorrilla to
Mr. Osborn.
[Translation.]
National Executive,
Belgrano, June 26,
1880.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your excellency’s note under date of 22d instant, by which
you are kind enough to tender your good offices in the present conflict
between the government of the nation and the authorities of this
province.
It is very agreeable to me to communicate to your excellency that the
national government, giving due weight to the kindly sentiments of your
excellency, will always bear in mind your agreeable offers, and will
accept, whenever opportunity offers, your friendly mediation.
At the same time that I thank your excellency in the name of the
President of the republic for your spontaneous offer and the interest
you manifest in behalf of the peace of these countries, I have the
satisfaction of reiterating to you the expressions of my extreme and
distinguished consideration.
His Excellency General Thos. O.
Osborn,
Minister of the United
States.
[Inclosure C.]
Governor Tejedor to
Mr. Osborn.
[Translation.]
Government of the Province,
June 23, 1880—8
a.m.
Mr. Minister: I believe with you that further
bloodshed can be avoided by an honorable arrangement. Therefore, I
accept, on my part, the friendly mediation to which you refer in your
note of yesterday—22d.
Late yesterday Mr. Mattera, senior member of the diplomatic corps,
accompanied by the minister of the German Empire, approached me with the
same intent, and I replied to them in identical terms. They even went
further. They proposed a suspension of hostilities and the nomination of
commissioners, one on each part, with the character of arbiters, which I
also accepted.
Whatever the result may be, I shall always thank you for the sentiments
which have impelled you to address me the note under reference, and I
subscribe myself, with every consideration,
Your excellency’s, &c.,
