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  4. Document 63

No. 63.
Mr. Adams to Mr. Evarts .

Legation of the United States,
La Paz , February 15, 1881. (Received April 26.)
No. 60.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a diplomatic circular from the Bolivian minister of foreign affairs, issued under date of February 1, with translation, in which the position of Bolivia is defined as influenced by the late defeat before Lima.

I do not think it necessary to add any opinion of mine regarding this circular and the very strong views of the Bolivian Government therein expressed, as it quite corresponds with what I have foreshadowed in former dispatches. I may, however, say that although Bolivia is apparently exhausted and looked upon by Chili as an enemy not worth troubling herself about, it may carry on for an indefinite period a guerrilla warfare, which will be a continuous menace to Chili, and well calculated to threaten its peaceful possession of the conquered territory; necessitating the support of a large standing army, while at the same time it will no doubt turn Bolivia’s commerce toward the Atlantic, via the La Plata or Amazon River. At any rate, I consider Bolivia stronger to-day than Peru, as it has more means of resistance and a more united people, and has suffered less in the actual war.

The original document, addressed to the minister of Bolivia at Washington, I beg to inclose for transmittal to its address, as requested in the accompanying note of the Hon. Dr. Nuñez del Prado, and have the honor to be, &c.,

CHARLES ADAMS.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 60.—Translation.]

Mr. Prado to Mr. Adams .

Ministry of Foreign Relations of Bolivia,
La Paz , February 1, 1881.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to your excellency the original and a legalized copy of a diplomatic circular* which this office directs to that of the United States, and in which, by occasion of the new defeat which the allied armies have suffered, it again expresses the unalterable intention of Bolivia to defend its rights and repel the ideas of conquest entertained by Chili.

Meanwhile I beg of your excellency to please have it reach its high destination, and accept the sentiments of my most perfect consideration.

DANIEL N. DEL PRADO.
  1. For inclosure see document No. 66, page 89.↩