No. 25.
Mr. Osborn
to Mr. Evarts.
Buenos Ayres, September 22, 1880. (Received October 30.)
Sir: On the 17th instant, Col. W. P. Tisdel, the agent of Mr. Roach’s line of American steamers from New York to Rio de Janeiro, arrived in this city, for the purpose of examining into and reporting upon the feasibility of extending the line of steamers to this city. After the colonel had had conferences with our merchants, I had the pleasure of presenting him to the minister of the interior, and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Zorrilla, on the afternoon of the 20th instant, and in the evening to the President and the other ministers, at the President’s private residence and at the President’s request.
[Page 34]In the interview at the executive mansion, the President said that under the administration of President Sarmiento the Argentine Congress had voted a standing subsidy of $20,000 a year to any company that would place a line of steam vessels from Buenos Ayres to any port of the United States, and that during his administration, on the 19th of June, 1878, after an interview with me on the subject (see my dispatch No. 193), he sent a message to congress asking for $25,000 as a subsidy for such a line, and that congress did not hesitate a moment to vote it. The President further stated that not only he and the authorities, but the people of the Argentine Republic, felt the liveliest interest in the project to draw closer the commercial and social ties between the two countries through the medium of steam communications, and that if Colonel Tisdel—although his administration would go out of power in a few days—would present a petition, he would send it to congress at once, with a message asking that the subsidy be increased, and that if congress could reach it before the close of its session, it would undoubtedly be passed.
The present administration closes the 12th of next month, when General Roca will be peacefully inaugurated the next President. He probably understands the wants of this country and is as progressive in his views as, if not more so than, any President this Republic ever had.
In view of these facts, Colonel Tisdel will postpone the presentation of his petition until the next administration is under way.
In this view of the matter, I am in full accord with him. From our merchants and shippers in the River Plate, Colonel Tisdel has received good and strong encouragements in favor of extending the line to this port. The extension of Mr. Roach’s line to this city will doubtless meet with strong opposition. Lamport & Holt now dispatch, and have for the past year, two steam vessels per month with cargo direct for New York, but the steamers so dispatched return by way of England; hence our products which would and should find a direct route to the River Plate are shipped to England and reshipped to this market as English products.
It is a notorious fact here that American hams, cheeses, and many other articles of American products find their way to this market as English products, simply for the want of steam communication between this port and New York, or some other port in the United States.
It is believed here that if Mr. Roach will extend his line to this point, and it can live for one year, it will be a success.
I have, &c.,