No. 56.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Trescot.

No. 8.]

Sir: I inclose for your information a copy of a dispatch (No. 337) of the 25th October last from our minister at Buenos Ayres, and a copy of a memorandum which accompanied the same, of action taken by the [Page 86] Argentine Government, in the latter part of 1880 and thereafter, in the direction of a friendly mediation between the belligerent governments on the west coast of South America by states which, in consequence of their geographical position, would be able to tender the same with as little delay as possible.

I am, &c.,

FRED’K T. FRELINGHUYSEN.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 8.]

Mr. Osborn to Mr. Blaine.

No. 337.]

Sir: In an interview with Dr. Irigoyen, minister for foreign affairs, at his residence, on the 1st instant, he read to me from a copy of a memorandum just received from a personal friend in Peru, addressed by General Hurlbut, our minister at Lima, to Admiral Lynch, commanding the Chilian forces in Peru, and at the same time he informed me that he had, in November last, addressed a dispatch to the court of Brazil, indicating the same policy to be pursued as that foreshadowed by Hurlbut’s memorandum, copies of which dispatch were sent to the Argentine representatives at Washington and London, to be laid before those two governments.

The minister now informs me that a reply has just been received from Lord Granville, approving of the suggestions made or policy indicated, and, as the Argentine representative did not leave a copy with the honorable Secretary of State, he has furnished me with a memorandum referring to the matter, and also with an official translation of the same, which I have the honor to inclose herewith.

I have, &c.,

THOS. O. OSBORN.
[Translation.]

memorandum.

A dispatch was sent by this department under date of November 9, 1880, to the Argentine minister to Brazil, signifying to him that after the unexpected outcome of the noble mediation offered to the belligerents of the Pacific by the United States Government, it deemed it expedient to renew a friendly mediation to be carried out by such states as should, on account of their geographical position, be able to tender it with as little delay as possible. In accordance with these views the minister was directed to bring the matter to the knowledge of the Brazilian Government.

An indication was likewise made that, should the suggestion be met by the approval of said government, this one was of opinion that the Cabinet at Washington ought to be made acquainted with this initiatory step in case that Cabinet should be inclined to repeat the tender of good offices so nobly proffered on the former occasion.

These instructions were amplified by a dispatch under date of the 10th of the same month, in which the Argentine minister was informed that the President desired that, at the conference the minister was to propose and base on the previous dispatch, he was to prudently enter into considerations on the conduct observed by the allied governments in the Paraguayan war, a war in which said governments did not think that they were, as victors, entitled to exact any cession of territory.

He was reminded at the same time that it was advisable that he, in his conversation with the Brazilian foreign secretary, should lay stress on the fact that this government has no further interest beyond the achievement of peace; inasmuch as the upshot of the campaign will in no wise influence the solution of the boundary question.

The Argentine minister to Brazil acknowledged the receipt of these dispatches, and in pursuance thereof had an interview with the foreign secretary at which the latter manifested his desire to be made acquainted with the opinion of the Argentine Government as to the modus operandi and manner of making the mediation an efficient one. He added that he likewise, for his part, accepted the idea of bringing this to the knowledge of the United States Government.

Some time after, on December 14, this department communicated to the Argentine minister to Brazil that the President would view with satisfaction the acceptation by the Brazilian Government of the proposals he had made, and we counseled the suggesting to the foreign secretary the advisability of a spontaneous procedure on our [Page 87] part, without waiting for any indication from the interested governments. At the same time we authorized said minister to come to an agreement as to the manner of making the mediation an efficient one.

The Argentine minister confirmed the statements of his previous dispatch as regards the acceptance of the idea of mediation by the Brizilian Government, adding that he believes that the government has but little faith in the matter, on account of the advanced stage of the war. He also stated that he had had an interview with the foreign secretary, whom he asked if his government was disposed to admit the joint mediation establishing the following principles as appertaining to American international law: to mitigate the horrors of war, and not to exercise the right of conquest?

The Brazilian minister objected to make these declarations on the ground that they might prove a difficulty in the way of the mediation.

The dispatch winds up by saying that he is satisfied that the imperial government is only disposed to tender an officious mediation on the condition that it be asked for by the interested parties.

On December 18, this department forwarded to the Argentine minister to Brazil the bases on which it considered the mediation ought to be offered. They are as follows:

I.

This government is of opinion that after appointing their extraordinary representatives, these ought to offer the Chilian Government the joint mediation, and that the offer should be also made to the allies, setting forth the friendly motives that give rise to this act of sincere cordiality, and signifying their readiness to favor by every means consonant with their duty, and with the impartial policy of their governments, the possibility of the belligerents being able to bring about by just and equitable settlements the end of the war that is dividing them.

If, as is probable, the joint mediation is accepted, the opportunity would have arrived for mediating ministers to enter upon their mission, encouraging a meeting of plenipotentiaries of the belligerents on board of some man-of-war of the imperial navy, or, in defect of this, on some other neutral one.

The meeting brought about, the mediating minister might open and preside over the conference, whereat they would solicit proposals for peace, and have them discussed; in this they will use every effort to bring about the result that is so vehemently desired.

They will favor by their friendly wishes every proposition that shall be conducive to the end aimed at, the re-establishment of peace. But they are on no account to abet any such as may tend to segregate territory or to lower the rights that any of the three belligerents may have as sovereign owner.

On the contrary, should any such propositions be advanced (and, as it is natural, rejected) by any of the belligerents, the mediators are bound to use their discreet and friendly efforts toward their being substituted by others that do not imply destruction of sovereign rights nor territorial annexation.

Besides this kind of proposals, they are to contribute with all the prudence the question calls for to the acceptance of such as may be submitted as conducive to bringing about peace.

The Chilian Government in its circular dispatch to foreign governments solemnly declares that it only aims at guarantees of peace for the future, and indemnification for damages and expenses incurred.

After setting forth in these words the pretensions of the Chilian Government, the mediators can base their good offices on that exposé, and their efforts are to aim at the guaranteeing of peace by suitable associations of circumstances, without at all affecting the sovereign rights and territorial integrity of the belligerents.

As regards the payment of indemnifications and the manner of efficiently carrying them out, the mediators will employ all such means as may be suggested to them by their ability, to arrive at an agreement as to said demands which cannot be the cause of a desolating war.

II.

Should the belligerent governments, or any of them, refuse to attend by means of plenipotentiaries any further conferences, the mediators will ask for such bases or propositions as might be conducive to a solution, and these they will submit to the other belligerent, and thus continue negotiations.

The ministers should follow the same preceding rules; that is to say, they will decline to be the channel for exactions of territorial cessions which would be tantamount to conquest. Should any such propositions be brought forward they are to be forthwith substituted by others calculated to bring about the lasting peace that is aimed at.

In the event of some one of the belligerents unfortunately insisting on maintaining said propositions of annexation as essential, and should refuse to substitute them, the mediators will declare that they are not able to submit them and that they prefer bringing their mission to an end.

[Page 88]

III.

If, as is not probable, the mediation should not be admitted by some of the belligerents, the mediators will signify that their governments believe the duty fulfilled which had been imposed upon them by the reigning spirit of humanity in this century and by that of fraternity which ever characterized the relations between the states of America. That they deeply regret the obstacles they have met with and which they submit to the consideration of their governments and to that of impartial nations, who will judge alike of the difficulties and of the responsibility they carry with them.

IV.

Should the belligerents definitely refuse (which would not seem to be possible) to put forward propositions that may be made use of as a basis for discussion, the mediators might for their part tender some such as the following:

Joint payment to Chili by Peru and Bolivia of the expenses of the war, the amount of which would be fixed by joint commissions.

Restoration of goods and lands taken from private individuals.

Indemnification for damages caused.

Guarantees for peace and the payment of amounts due.

Submission to the arbitration of some impartial power of all preceding questions, and of all such as may arise in connection with such treaties as may be stipulated.

On January 17, the Argentine minister communicated to this department that, according to what had been signified to him by the managing director at the foreign office, no answer had up to then been given to his dispatch of December 25, as the minister had intended to tender his resignation, but that, as the circumstances no longer existed, it would be answered as soon as possible.

On the 9th of April, the Argentine minister sent a dispatch to the Brazilian department for foreign affairs, and informed it that this government had directed him to renew the proposition to mediate between the belligerents, and that the basis previously indicated is the same that the Argentine Government again submits.

Later on, under date of July 17, the Argentine minister gave notice that he had received a communication from the foreign secretary, in which the latter declared that, some short time before his receipt of the note of April 9, the news had come from London that the French, English, and Italian Governments, at the request of that of Peru, were about to use their good offices for the re-establishment of peace.

This was borne out by the answer given in the House of Lords to a question put to the government by Sir Charles Dilke, under secretary of state for foreign affairs.

The Brazilian foreign secretary added that a complication was rising. The mediation proposed by the Argentine Government had to be offered to the three belligerents and would be met by that of the three European powers asked for by one of the allies, as it would seem, without the assent of the other.

The imperial government was obliged to await information to throw a light on the procedure of the three powers referred to.

It now knows that they have already given instructions to their diplomatic agents in the west coast, and that they would recognize the authority of Garcia Calderon, as soon as ever they became convinced that the Chilian Government was in treaty with him.

In view of this state of affairs, the imperial government proposes, in answer to the suggestion of mediation of a joint nature made by the Argentine minister, a tender of good offices without indicating the conditions of peace, and this offer will be made either to Chili and Bolivia alone, if Peru had accepted European intervention, or to all of the three, in case that intervention had not been accepted.

On August 28, this department addressed the Argentine minister and manifested that this government was disposed to tend, with that of Brazil, toward the acceptance of the good offices to which the dispatch of the 15th refers.

He was authorized to agree to the form to be adopted for the opening steps, and was empowered to accept the indications contained in the dispatch of the 15th.

He is recommended to draw, as far as possible, the basis together as submitted for the good offices, previously tendered for the joint mediation, but should this not be possible, he may accept the starting-point proposed by Mr. de Souza.

In August (31st), 1881, the Argentine minister informs the department that Mr. Caballero, the Bolivian minister to Brazil, had signified to him that the Bolivian government not only accepts the offer of good offices in its own name, but in that of the dictator of Peru.

Buenos Ayres,
Foreign Office, September 8.

A true translation from the original in this department.

C. A. SHOOLBRED.