Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898

Mr. Bridgman to Mr. Sherman.

Legation of the United States,
La Paz, Bolivia, May 19, 1898.

No. 28.]

Sir: I have the honor to announce that after considerable delay the note came from the minister of foreign relations at Sucre containing the assurance of the neutrality of Bolivia in relation to the existing war between the United States and Spain.

I inclose herewith a copy of the original note and a translation of the same. The announcement arrived at the legation late on May 16 and I cabled the fact to Washington on the morning of May 17, as follows:

Neutrality assurance just received from Bolivian Government.

I have, etc.,

G. H. Bridgman.

[Inclosure 1—Translation.]

Ministry of Foreign Relations,
Sucre, May 11, 1898.

Sir: In response to your note of the 27th of April, I have the honor to announce to your excellency that the Government of Bolivia, deploring deeply the war which exists between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, has kept from the first moment, and will continue to keep, the strictest neutrality in the said conflict.

I should have preferred to make this declaration personally to your excellency, but unfortunately the circumstances to which your note refers prevent me from so doing.

I renew, etc.,

M. M. Gomez.