No. 90.
Mr. Osborn
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Santiago,
Chili, January 14, 1881.
(Received March 7.)
No. 190.]
Sir: Referring to your instruction No. 108,
conveying information of the convention concluded between the
representatives of Chili and the United States of Colombia, at Bogota, in
September last, for the preservation of peace between those republics, and
directing me as to my
[Page 123]
duty in the
premises, I have the honor herewith to inclose a copy, with English
translation, of a note received by me from the minister of foreign
relations, together with a copy of my reply.
You will observe that the minister, after informing me of the execution of
the convention referred to, says that it meets with the approval of his
government, and will be presented to the National Congress for its action.
He adds a request to be informed whether the designation of the President of
the United States to act as arbitrator in certain contingencies mentioned in
the convention will prove acceptable to the Government of the United
States.
My reply, as you will see, is an assurance that the President will deem
himself privileged in being permitted to respond to the flattering trust
reposed in him, if his services should be required.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
190.—Translation.]
Mr. Valderrama to
Mr. Osborn.
Republic of Chili,
Department of Foreign
Relations,
Santiago, December 23,
1880.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on the
3d of September last a convention “ad referendum” was entered into at
the city of Bogota by the minister of foreign relations of Colombia and
the chargé d’affaires of Chili near that republic, copy of which
accompanies the present, by the terms of which both countries agree to
submit to arbitration the decision of all questions that may arise
between them and which it may be found impossible to decide by
diplomacy.
My government has no hesitancy in accepting the principle of arbitration
thus established, and will submit the convention to the National
Congress.
With regard to the designation of His Excellency the President of the
United States of America as umpire in the cases specified in article II,
my government hopes that it will not prove unacceptable to your
excellency’s government, and that in it your government will see a
reciprocation of the many and strong proofs of friendly feeling that
Chili has received from it.
Notwithstanding these marks of confidence, I am directed by His
Excellency the President of the republic, in bringing this subject to
your notice, to inquire whether the Government of the United States will
give a favorable consideration to the selection which has been made of
the President of the Union for the cases referred to.
I avail myself of the occasion to renew the assurance of my distinguished
consideration.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 190.]
Mr. Osborn to Mr.
Valderrama.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, January 7,
1881.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your
excellency’s note of the 23d ultimo, inclosing a copy of the convention
entered into on the 3d of September last “ad referendum” between the
Republic of Chili and that of Colombia, providing for the settlement by
arbitration of all such questions as may arise between the two
governments which it may be found impossible to arrange through
diplomatic intercourse, designating at the same time the President of
the United States as umpire, and inquiring whether the government of the
United States would lend favorable consideration to the selection
therein made of its President as umpire for the cases provided for by
the convention referred to.
In reply I have to say that I can best answer your inquiry by
transcribing the text
[Page 124]
of a
communication on this subject received from my government under date of
October 13, and which is as follows:
“That should occasion for arbitration arise under the treaty, the
President will deem himself privileged in being able to respond to the
flattering trust reposed in him, and evincing the friendship of the
people and Government of the United States for for both republics”
I may add that my government experiences the liveliest satisfaction at
the course proposed by your excellency’s government and that of the
Republic of Colombia, regarding it as a concurrence in a great principle
successfully inaugurated and put in practice by the Government of the
United States.
I have, &c.,
