Mr. Koerner to Mr. Seward.
Sir.* * * * *
Mr. Salazar, owing to sickness, has only arrived here day before yesterday, and on yesterday evening I applied for an interview with Mr. Pacheco, which took place this morning.
The minister told me that he had had but one conference with Mr. Salazar; that the latter was preparing a report, to be laid to-day before the council of ministers; that he could, therefore, only speak for himself, but he did not think that his opinion would be much modified by the council. Mr. Salazar having convinced him that an attempt had been made on his life while on his journey, in which, however, he, Mr. Pacheco, did not think the government of Peru implicated, he would be satisfied by a disavowal on the part of that government, and would take its word for it. All his demands upon Peru would be of a nature that could not wound the feelings of that power, and would be made in a spirit anxious to secure peace. He thought he would call on Peru to send a commissioner to explain matters, but he could tell me better in a day or two, when he would put me “au courant” of what the Spanish government intended to do.
I told him that was all that I desired. The moment that Spain would clearly (nettement) and precisely state what was really demanded of Peru, there was great hope of bringing about a favorable settlement at once. It would be preferable to so reduce to precise terms the claims of Spain, commencing with the Talambo question, at the earliest possible period, before new complications might arise, as I had no doubt, from what he had assured me, that the demands of Spain would be consistent with justice; it would probably take but a very short time for the United States to convince Peru of the propriety of yielding to such demands. That I could undertake to say, from what I had learned from despatches written by the Peruvian government to its consul here, and from what must be apparent from the very nature of things, that no other power in Europe or America was so likely to exercise a strong influence on the government of Peru as my government; and that, perhaps, a simple good advice on its part to Peru could settle the whole difficulty without any trouble and without any formal mediation. He replied, that he was fully aware of that, and that the government of the United States, being a very powerful one, and legitimately the leading one in all America, could certainly bring great influence to bear on this matter. He was very thankful for the interest taken by my government in trying to arrange the difficulties with Peru, and would feel very much obliged [Page 35] if we would, in a confidential manner, not by way of official mediation, continue to exercise our good offices.
I give you barely a rough sketch of the conversation, as time again presses, the mail closing in about an hour, and our interview having ended but a half hour ago.
Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.