Will your excellency be pleased to accept the reiterated expressions, of
the distinguished consideration with which I am your excellency’s most
obedient servant,
The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
[Translation.]
Department of Foreign
Relations, Santiago de
Chili.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHILI.
To all to whom these presents may come, greeting: Considering, 1st,
that, according to the principles and rules generally adopted by
civilized nations, all coal intended for the public vessels of one
nation engaged in hostile operations against another must be
considered, and, in fact, has been considered, as an article
contraband of war;
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2d. That, in view of the late acts and declarations, respectively
made by the governments of Peru and of Spain, of the law recently
proclaimed in that republic, and of the re-enforcements which the
cabinet of Madrid is sending to the squadron occupying the Chincha
islands, it is impossible not to consider the two countries
mentioned, if not in a state of declared war, at least in
hostilities de facto;
And 3d. That it is the duty of loyal neutrality to prevent the
furnishing of contraband of war, by the taking away from the coasts
of Chili coal destined for the vessels of either of the
belligerents—
I have set forth the following declaration:
1st. Coal destined for the supplying of the public vessels of a state
employed in hostile operations against another state is an article
contraband of war.
2d. It is not lawful to take away from the coasts of Chili any
quantity of coal whatever destined for the purpose above
mentioned.
3. Those authorities of the republic whom it may concern will adopt
the necessary measures to prevent the infraction or eluding of the
present declaration.
Given in the hall of my office, in
Santiago, the 27th of September, in the year of our
Lord, 1864.
JOSÉ JOAQUIN PEREZ, The President of the
Republic of Chili.
Alvaro Covarrubias.
A true copy:
DOMINGO ARTEAGA ALEMPARTE, Acting
Chief Clerk.
