No. 38.
Mr. Trescot to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

No. 2.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I reached this capital on Saturday, 7th January. On Monday I informed Señor Balmaceda, the secretary for foreign affairs, of my arrival, and was received in public audience by the President this morning at 1 o’clock.

I inclose the brief speech which I made on presenting my credentials, and the reply of his excellency the President. They will satisfy you that you need feel no apprehension of any such issue as you suggested in your telegram, which was received by me the day of my arrival at Valparaiso.

As the mail closes at 6 o’clock, I am compelled to be very brief, when the condition of affairs really requires a very full explanation.

Postponing to next mail a careful appreciation of the very delicate and difficult character of the question with which it has been made my duty to deal, I can only say now that I found here a state of feeling excited far beyond anything that I had anticipated. The popular impression was that I was the bearer of a positive and imperious demand from the United States that Chili should make an immediate peace upon such terms as my government deemed just and proper. And while the Government of Chili did not share in this exaggerated apprehension, there evidently existed in official circles an uneasy uncertainty as to the purpose of the special mission.

[Page 59]

I have reason to believe that the remarks which I made at the reception this morning have relieved all apprehension of this sort.

I am afraid that it will be more difficult to correct the extravagant hope which exists in Peru of a prompt, and even forcible, intervention of the United States to secure a peace without cession of Peruvian territory.

The opinion which I think I am justifled in forming even at so early a period is that Chili really desires peace on what is believed to be fair and necessary conditions, and that the government would gladly find a solution which would relieve it from a prolonged occupation of Peru. But how far I will be able to suggest a method which will conciliate rival interests and susceptibilities I cannot now say. Chili needs peace, but the destruction of the Calderon government and the arrest of Calderon himself have so disorganized Peru that there is no government with which Chili can treat.

I am satisfied that the more friendly are our relations with Chili the greater will be our opportunity and ability to serve Peru. And I can very well conceive that the present perplexed condition of the relations between the two countries may render the friendly intervention of the United States desirable to both.

After my reception this morning, I told Señor Balmaceda, the secretary for foreign affairs, that if he would accept a suggestion I would propose that, before opening any formal diplomatic correspondence, we should meet informally and have a full and amicable conversation. As I had reason to anticipate, he accepted the suggestion cordially, and I am to meet him at his department on Monday at 12 o’clock.

I inclose also a correspondence between Señor Balmaceda and myself, which will explain itself.

The matter was perhaps not very important, but under existing circumstances there might have been an intention which it was my duty to notice, and I trust that my action will meet your approval.

I ought, perhaps, to add that my reception here, both public and private, has been,courteous and cordial.

As the administration removes from this place for the summer to Valparaiso and the adjoining watering-place of Viña del Mar, I will, of course, be obliged to transfer my residence there when they move, which they will probably do some time next week. I have inferred from the telegram received at Panama, informing me of Mr. Blaine’s appointment as chargé d’affaires at Santiago, that it was not the intention of the department to modify its original instructions, and that I would be still authorized, in case of necessity, to charge him with instructions to Lima or La Paz.

I have, &c.,

WM. HENRY TRESCOT.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 2.]

Address of Mr. Trescot to the President of Chili.

Mr. President: I have the honor to present you my credentials as special envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the President of the United States.

The frank and friendly communication with which I am charged will find, I am sure, a ready response at your hands. If recent occurrences have seemed to disturb that loyal confidence which has hitherto marked the relations of the two governments, the President is persuaded that they are due to some unfortunate misunderstanding which need only be clearly stated in order to be satisfactorily corrected. The Government of Chili will not fail to appreciate the natural and deep interest which is felt by [Page 60] the United States in the prompt and honorable termination of a war between kindred republics; and I trust that your excellency will also feel assured that in no effort which the Government of the United States may desire to make towards so happy a consummation could there exist an intention to suggest any solution which would compromise the honor, endanger the true interest, or wound the susceptibilities of either of the belligerents.

I venture to hope that when I am permitted to lay before your excellency the views of the President you will find only an earnest desire for the arrival of that time when the powers now at war will resume their peaceful and prosperous progress; when strengthening themselves they will strengthen each other for the preservation of that system of free, strong, and independent republics which, founded in the traditions of the past, is the glory of the present and the security of the future in both Americas.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 2.—Translation.]

Reply of the President of Chili to Mr. Trescot.

Mr. Minister: I receive the credentials which you place in my hands with satisfaction, which accredit you as the special envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States.

You may be assured that in the Chilian Government you will find a sincere and friendly welcome, which will be a merited reply to the loyalty of purpose and sentiments with which personally, and in obedience to your instructions, you come animated.

I am fully confident that our friendly relations with the United States, cultivated by both sides with the constant attention that is becoming to two honorable governments, will be maintained unchanged.

I esteem as a special proof of the sympathy of the Government of the United States, the natural interest that it manifests for the termination of a war which, unprovoked by Chili, has been brought to a final end by means of vigorous measures, and it is pleasing to me to hear from you that any effort made by the President of the United States for such a purpose, would never involve an intention to suggest any solution that might compromise or endanger the interests, the honor, or the susceptibilities of the belligerents.

Chili, an industrious people, that owes its welfare and its progress to peace, and which, beneath its shade, has secured and developed the democratic principles that constitute the immovable basis of the republic, and assure it in the future, could not accept, after the war, a peace that did not comport with its honor or fully secure its rights.

I do not doubt but that your mission will fully correspond with the elevated views of the President of the United States. It is also to be expected, on account of your abilities, as well as of your honorable antecedents. You will meet from this government every facility desirable, and I do not doubt but that you will find a cordial and pleasant welcome from Chilian society.

[Inclosure 3 in No. 2.]

Mr. Trescot to Señor Balmaceda.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 11th instant, informing me that his excellency the President of the Republic of Chili has been pleased to appoint Friday, 13th of the present month, at 1 o’clock p. m., as the time of my public audience for the purpose of presenting the letters of credence of which I am the bearer.

While thanking your excellency for this communication, I beg that you will allow me to call your attention to an error in my official address, which I am satisfied is only a clerical oversight, but which my government would, I am sure, expect me to have corrected.

I am styled both in the superscription of the official envelope and in the address of the note itself, “Enviado Extraordinario Especial y Ministro Plenipotentiary de los Estados de Norte America.”

The style and title of the United States are “The United States of America.”

Your excellency’s familiarity with diplomatic usage will, I am sure, lead you to appreciate the propriety of the correction which I have the honor to ask.

Renewing the assurance of my highest consideration,

I am, your excellency’s obedient servant,

WM. HENRY TRESCOT.
[Page 61]
[Inclosure 4 in No. 2.]

Reply of Señor Balmaceda to Mr. Trescot.

Sir: I have just received a note which your excellency did me the honor to address me of this date, for the purpose of asking me to change the address on communications that may be sent to you, by placing “The United States of America” in place of the United States of North America.

The official address which your excellency has seen on the dispatches which I have had the pleasure of sending to you is the same as has always been used by this office in its communications to the legation of the United States. However, I hasten to make a note of your remarks, which shall be attended to in future.

I take advantage of this occasion to reiterate to your excellency the expression of my sentiments of high consideration, with which I remain your excellency’s attentive and true servant,

BALMACEDA.