File No. 834.00/108.

The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.

No. 42, Paraguay.]

Sir: I have the honor to enclose copy of a despatch received from the consul at Asuncion relative to the condition of affairs in Paraguay. As the Department will perceive, Consul Ferris does not venture to make any prediction regarding the turn which events may take in the future.

The newspapers of Montevideo and Buenos Aires usually contain telegrams from Asuncion, but the state of affairs in Paraguay appears so confused that, having no knowledge of that country at first hand, I do not feel competent to do otherwise than transmit the reports sent me by Consul Ferris without comment.

I have [etc.]

A. Campbell Turner.
[Inclosure.]

The American Consul at Asuncion to the American Chargé d’Affaires.

Sir: I have to report that on the 31st ultimo certain army officers attempted to coerce the Provisional President to complete the formation of a ministry favorable to the Liberal Party, and to reincorporate into the army certain officers who had taken part in the last revolution against the Government. The attempt did not succeed as planned, but just how it was frustrated I am not able to state. Troops were posted in the different parts of the city and the police force is concentrated in its headquarters. The situation is still unsettled.

An interesting feature of the situation is the action of the Argentine and Brazilian diplomatic representatives, who tendered their good offices to harmonize the diverse political elements, but who said that in case of fighting in the streets, forces would be landed from the naval vessels of those two countries to preserve order.

I have not sent this information by telegraph on account of the telegraphic service being so unreliable, and because political changes are so frequent that they seem to me not important enough to telegraph. Furthermore it is very difficult to obtain information that is definite and reliable.

Very respectfully yours,

Cornelius Ferris.