No. 69.
Mr. Adams
to Mr. Evarts.
La Paz, August 5, 1880. (Received October 5.)
Sir: Since my last dispatch (No. 13) concerning the political situation of Bolivia, nothing of importance has occurred. Congress is still in session, doing nothing apparently, but said to be engaged in secret sessions to deliberate upon the question of peace or further prosecution of the war.
Two weeks ago the question of peace was not even discussed openly; now two of our journals here propose the necessary preliminaries looking towards an armistice, and within a few days the two most prominent members of the cabinet, Mr. Carillo, of state and foreign affairs, and Mr. Salinas, of war, have been mentioned as favoring such a policy.
Arica, the Peruvian port lately captured by the Chilians, has been opened to Bolivian commerce, but such commerce has been interdicted by the government at the demand of Peru, and in consequence it is now rumored that Chilian troops will shortly move towards this city or Puno, Peru, the latter the only place by which communication is kept open between the allies.
Should this prove true, and it is likely, as the sentiment of Chili demands some action, either place could “be occupied by a small force, and then indeed all intercourse between Peru and Bolivia would necessarily cease.
It is already said that the government here will abandon La Paz and retire to Oruro, and private advices have been received from Tacna that such movement may take place very shortly.
[Page 82]The war party here consoles itself with late news from Lima, stating that several ironclads with war material of all kinds, purchased in the United States, have arrived or will shortly arrive, and will change the aspect of the war materially, and this slim hope keeps off utter despondency.
I rather look forward to an early invasion of Bolivia, and as La Paz will naturally be the object of the enemy’s attack, I shall probably have my hands full in protecting property and persons in that event.
Everything, however, is uncertain, and a day may change the whole aspect of affairs.
I have, &c.,