No. 126.
Mr. Bayard to Señor Flores.
Washington, May 25, 1885.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 23d instant, which was delivered at the Department of State on that day, when the offices were closed by reason of the funeral of my predecessor in office.
You therein summarize the report which you have made to your Government of our conference of the 15th instant, in relation to the case of Mr. Julio R. Santos, and solicit my confirmation thereof.
I have no hesitancy in confirming, at your request, your statement of the fact that you were careful to send the telegram to your Government requesting the release of Mr. Santos before you had inspected the correspondence of this Department with the United States consulate-general at Guayaquil, and before you had made yourself acquainted with the position of this Government and the proofs of the case, although I did not inquire into your reason for so doing.
After you had fully inspected the correspondence and proofs in the case, I was informed by Mr. Adee, the Third Assistant Secretary of State, that you expressed yourself as being well satisfied with the moderation and good feeling which marked the attitude taken by this Government in its correspondence on the subject.
I know of no unpleasant incident whatever tending to interrupt the mutually friendly conversations that have taken place since your arrival, although I recall having stated to you my strong disapproval of resort to the newspapers as a channel for conveying diplomatic information; and when you exhibited to me a printed slip from a New York paper, I told you that I had observed upon the very day after your arrival an editorial in that journal upon the case of Santos, and deprecated such “trial by newspapers.” I did not at the time, nor can I now, regard this incident as in any sense disagreeable, or as other than the courteous frankness due, in personal friendly conversation like ours, to the end of setting the matter on a clear and mutually agreeable basis. I would not have adverted to the incident but for your inquiry in this regard, neither do I desire now to make any reference to newspaper publications.
The more simple and direct our intercourse in the important matters relating to the interest and duties of our respective Governments, the more evidently advantageous and desirable it is. In this way all misunderstanding can be avoided and the great objects of justice arrived at in amity, a result which the treaties are designed to secure, and which it is the best aim and end of diplomatic intercourse to effect.
For yourself, personally, Mr. Minister, I have only the kindliest feelings, and I am glad of any opportunity which permits me to express them.
Be pleased to accept, sir, &c.,