Mr. Asboth to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that President Mitre, after a two years’ absence as commander-in-chief of the allied armies in Paraguay, returned the day before yesterday to Buenos Ayres. A large concourse of people awaited [Page 143] him at the landing place and escorted him en masse to his private dwelling, where he addressed them as follows:
[Translation.]
Gentlemen: Whatever may be the glory that surrounds me, the greatest—that which makes my heart proud, that which most flatters me—is to see myself in the midst of the love of this valiant and heroic people, always ready to realize great deeds and to follow vigorously the destiny of its flag.
But, gentlemen, all my words, all that I could say, would not suffice to show my gratitude.
Nothing can be more eloquent than what the people is doing for me at this moment.
I can only tell you that the greatest triumph for me is to see myself amongst you.
Yesterday the corps diplomatique visited the President. Our Señor M. Lefebvre de Bécour, French minister plenipotentiary, expressed, in a brief address, the confident hope that, with the President’s safe return, the much-desired peace will be given to the La Plata regions. In the President’s reply the ominous words were introduced “that he firmly believed that an honorable peace will be conquered.”
To-day’s Standard concludes an article, headed “the return of the President,” as follows:
We believe we interpret the wishes, not only of the foreigners, but the great bulk of Argentines, when we say they all sigh for peace. The country is rid of the Paraguayan invaders, and if terms honorable for this republic and guarantees for their performance can be obtained, the River Plata public will bless the day when President Mitre landed here to put an end to this disastrous war.
Persons in the President’s confidence say that he is not inclined to accept a friendly mediation, but is determined speedily to suppress or pacify the reaction in the interior, and then return as commander-in-chief of the allied armies to conquer Paraguay.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.