Mr. Kilpatrick to Mr. Seward.
No. 104.]
Legation of the United States,
Santiago de Chili,
March 26, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your dispatch No. 55, dated June 15, informing me of the
reply of the Spanish government
[Page 321]
to the modifications proposed by the allied republics of Chili, Peru,
Bolivia, and Ecuador, to the bases of arrangement suggested by the
President of the United States for the adjustment of the difficulties
between these republics and Spain, and asking if the republic of Chili
had anything further to communicate towards promoting a concurrence of
views.
The substance of your dispatch was communicated to the government of
Chili, which replies (in a communication, a copy and translation of
which, marked A and B, I inclose) that it would be impossible for Chili
to consider alone this question and to give a definite answer, but that
the subject will be immediately laid before the members of the alliance,
and as soon as their unanimous decision can be made, the result will be
transmitted to the United States.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Señor Fontecilla to Mr. Kilpatrick.
Santiago,
March 24, 1868.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive the
note of the 18th instant which your excellency has been pleased to
address me, informing me of the answer given to the government of
the United States by that of Spain, in relation to the modifications
proposed by the allied republics to the bases of the arrangement
presented by the government of your excellency.
In this connection your excellency inquires if my government desires
to communicate anything more to that of the United States upon the
subject, to the end of promoting a concurrence of views, and
announce that in case of a negative the government of your
excellency will consider as terminated the good offices which it has
been employing to attain peace by way of mediation.
In acknowledging the receipt of the note referred to, I should advise
you that Chili, being bound to the other republics by means of a
compact of alliance, it would be impossible for my government to
deliberate by itself alone upon a matter of so much gravity, and to
give to your excellency a definite answer.
For the present, it will doubtless comply with the duty incumbent
upon it, to transmit, as in brief it proceeds to do, your
excellency’s note to the consideration of the allies, and to promote
among all the confederated republics a concurrence upon the point
which your excellency submits to its consideration; and as soon as
the common views of all of them, may be known, I shall make it my
duty to satisfy the inquiry which your excellency addresses to
me.
In the meantime it gratifies me to manifest to your excellency the
gratitude of my government for the constant efforts of the United
States to attain by means of its friendly offices the
re-establishment of peace.
I avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate to your excellency
the assurances of the distinguished consideration with which I have
the honor to be your excellency’s attentive and faithful
servant,
The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary
of the United States of North
America.
Mr. Seward to Mr. Kilpatrick.
Department of State,
Washington,
March 27, 1868.
Sir: The technical continuance of the state
of war between Spain on the one part, and Peru, Chili, Ecuador, and
Bolivia on the other, occasions inconveniences to all neutral
states, and especially to this country,
[Page 322]
which it is desirable should be terminated by
a formal armistice. You will consequently suggest in the proper
quarter that a measure of this character should be adopted by the
government to which you are accredited. If your suggestion should be
favorably received, you may follow it by another to the effect that
all the parties to the war referred to should appoint
plenipotentiaries to meet here for the purpose of bringing about a
definitive peace. If the advice of this government should be asked,
there shall be no want of proper and impartial effort on its part to
see that the claims of all shall receive due consideration.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Judson Kilpatrick, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Same to United States minister to Spain.
Same to United States minister to Peru.
