Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 4, 1882

No. 49.
Mr. Walker Blaine to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Legation of the United States,
Viña del Mar, Chili, February 24, 1882.

No. 8.]

Sir: Referring to my dispatch numbered seven, dated February 3, 1882, with regard to the presentation of the invitation to the President of the Republic of Chili to send two delegates to a congress of the American powers, to be held in Washington, in the month of November next, I have the honor to inform you that on the 22d instant I waited upon Señor Balmaceda, Chilian secretary of foreign affairs, and read the invitation to him, stating to him at the same time what arrangements the Government of the United States proposed to make to facilitate the labors of the congress, a statement which I afterward embodied in a memorandum note addressed to him, a copy of which is herewith inclosed.

So many erroneous statements as to the object of the proposed congress, translations among others of articles published in the United States, were being constantly circulated in Chili, that it appeared to me that possibly unfortunate impressions as to the purpose and attitude of our government might be created. I was also well assured that the invitation had been presented to every government in South America except Chili. I telegraphed on the 13th instant, to Mr. Osborn, our minister resident near the Argentine Republic, inquiring as to whether he had received the invitation referred to, and, if so, what disposition he had made of it, and he replied that he had received the invitation and at once presented it to the government to which he is accredited. I awaited the receipt of the mail of the 21st instant, and, receiving no instructions upon the subject, thought it best, under the circumstances, to present the invitation.

Mr. Balmaceda informed me that he would be pleased to consider the invitation as having been presented at the earlier date, when I made the attempt to do so, but at his request desisted; that the laudable purpose for which the congress was invited could not but meet the approval of all nations, and that he would transmit the reply of his government at as early date as should be practicable.

Trusting that my action will meet your approval,

I have, &c.,

WALKER BLAINE.

[Inclosure in No. 8.]

Mr. Walker Blaine to Señor Balmaceda.

Legation of the United States,
Viña del Mar, Chili, February 22, 1882.

Sir: In transmitting, at your request, a copy of the invitation of the President of the United States to his excellency the President of the Republic of Chili to send representatives to a. congress of the nations of North and South America, which it is proposed to hold in Washington in the month of November next, I beg to furnish to your excellency some indication of the arrangements which my government proposes to make to facilitate the labors of the congress.

I am instructed to say that it is designed that the congress shall be held under the auspices of the Government of the United States, which, to that end, will supply suitable hall for the meetings of the commissioners, will take charge of all the necessary arrangements, and, at its own expense, will meet all the material requirements of the congress, reporting and interpreting the proceedings and printing the resultant protocols in Spanish and English for the use of all the parties. Secretaries, clerks, and copyists in both languages will be provided and paid by the United States—no expense being left to the invited countries except the maintenance of their own commissioners.

I avail, &c.,

WALKER BLAINE.