Señor Lazcano to Mr. Blaine.
Washington, March 10, 1891. (Received March 11.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the Government of Chile has prohibited, until further orders, the importation into the entire territory of the Republic of arms and munitions of war of all kinds.
Relying upon the friendship of the Government of the United States for that of Chile, I shall thank you if you will be good enough to communicate, if possible, through the proper channel, this decree of my Government to the custom-houses of the Union, in order to prevent the shipment to Chile of those articles which in the present case would be considered as articles of illicit commerce.
I am specially moved to request of you the said communication by the circumstance of the arrival at New York of an agent of the Chilean insurrectionary forces for the purpose of purchasing in this country arms and munitions of war to maintain the rebellion in Chile.
I venture to hope that the friendly ties which unite the Government of this country with my own will be sufficient ground for your favorable reception of the request which I take the liberty of making in the present note.
It is gratifying to me to renew to you the sentiments, etc.