[Extract,]
Mr. Washburn to Mr. Seward
No. 84.]
Headquarters Paraguay Army, Paso Pucu,
March 25, 1867.
Sir: At the date of my despatch of the 12th
instant, No. 82, I was at the headquarters of the allied camp, whither I
had gone for reasons then fully given. Having ascertained that there
were no despatches nor other correspondence for me, and that the allies
had refused to accept the mediation of the United States, I returned
through the military lines to this place, and on the 6th started for
Asuncion, which I reached on the evening of the 18th.
Three days after I received a telegram from this place saying that the
United States steamer Wasp had arrived at Itapiru, and that her
commander, Lieutenant Kirkland, had come through the lines to these
headquarters, and had brought a large amount of mail matter, including
several government despatches for me. These despatches he was to deliver
to me in person, and wait only long enough
[Page 717]
to receive the answers I might have to send by
him. To save time I replied I would return to this place, and
accordingly the next day I left Asuncion, and reached here on the
morning of the 23d. From Lieutenant Kirkland I received your despatches
Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60.
At the time of my visit to the headquarters of the Marquis de Caxias, the
commander-in-chief of the allies, I was not able to send you copies of
my note to him or of his answer to me. I therefore now send copies of
both. You will observe that the marquis refuses even to consider
anything like mediation that is not preceded by the resignation of
President Lopez and his departure from the country, and will not
entertain any proposition that recognizes him as competent to treat with
the allies in any particular. This reply from the chief of the army
seemed to me to require a reply from me, and I accordingly addressed him
a note in which I have stated that it never could have been supposed by
my government, when it made its offer of mediation, that it would be met
with the reply by one of the parties in the contest that the other must
first submit to self-immolation before it would ever entertain any
proposition looking towards peace. I have also expressed my dissent from
the position taken by the allies, that they had any right to impose a
government or head of a government on Paraguay, other than what its
people had chosen. I send herewith a copy of this letter. The views
therein expressed I believe are in accordance with those of the
government and people of the United States.
Besides your despatches, Lieutenant Kirkland brought me others from our
minister in Buenos Ayres, General Asboth, in which he informed me of the
reception the offer of mediation by the United States had met with. But
it appears from his letter to me that he believes the Argentine
government will yet be glad to accept it, as the people of that country
are utterly weary and sick of the war. He believes that the Argentine
people will not much longer consent to see themselves sacrificed for the
aggrandizement of the Brazilian empire, and that the triple alliance
must be soon broken. Of the ambitious projects of Brazil, and its
evident intention to be in a situation to dominate the whole of South
America east of the Andes, I have written you fully in previous
despatches. Its fleet is already enormous, and Paraguay once conquered,
every city, town, and village of any importance in the Argentine and
Uruguay republics would be helplessly at the mercy of his Imperial
Majesty Pedro II. This the Argentine people now realize, and, so far as
I can judge, eagerly welcomed the offer of mediation. But the government
seems to be entirely under the control of the Brazilians, and does
nothing to avert the impending danger.
Had General Asboth come up on the Wasp, and been allowed to confer with
the Marquis de Caxias, President Lopez, and myself, I am clearly of the
opinion he could have been of good service to both of the belligerent
parties. With his great military knowledge, he could, from a survey of
the field, have judged pretty well of the final result, and his advice
to the weaker party would doubtless have had great weight in inducing it
to offer terms of pacification. Besides, his coming would have caused
the impression that he was on a peace mission, and that peace was near;
and when people are led to believe and strongly hope for peace, they are
likely to demand it soon.
For these reasons I regret that General Asboth did not come up here, as
it was his purpose and wish to do. But Admiral Godon, with his
characteristic courtesy and his characteristic way of aiding the
ministers of his government in carrying out their instructions, refused
to allow him a passage in the steamer. Of this action of the admiral I
was informed when in the camp of the allies, as I mentioned in my
despatch No. 82. The Marquis de Caxias then read me an extract from what
appeared to be an official letter, the purport of which was, that
General Asboth had intended to come up to Paraguay, but that in a
confidential interview with Admiral Godon they had arranged it so that
he could not or would not come.
* * * * *
[Page 718]
There has been no change in the aspect of the war since the date of my
previous despatches. President Lopez is confident he can hold his
enemies in check for months or years in his present intrenchments, and
he certainly can do it unless they show more activity than they have
done during the last six months, and if they have not some plan by which
they can flank him and cut off his connection with the capital he will
surely win at last. The prospect, therefore, for the future is dismal
and dreary. I see no light in any direction except after many months
more of weary war.
There is one other point to which I would call your attention. The
Marquis de Caxias told me that the war expenses of Brazil at the present
time were $1,000,000 per day. It occurs to me that Brazil could not
carry on a war at such a cost for so long a time, were not the
aristocratic, monarchical, anti-republican influences in Europe enlisted
in behalf of the empire. If such be the case, then it must be with the
intention of destroying all vestiges of republican government in the
eastern part of South America.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Washburn to President Lopez
Paso Pucu,
March 11, 1867.
Sir: I find myself in the necessity of
communicating with my government, and I also find it is of the first
importance to obtain such despatches as it may have sent to me, but
which as yet have not been transmitted across the military lines. I
am, therefore, very desirous to pass to the camp of the allied
forces, that from there I may send forward to the United States
minister at Buenos Ayres my accumulated correspondence, and try to
obtain whatever I may find for me on the other side. To do this I
must depend on your excellency to furnish me with a flag of truce
and escort to pass to the advanced posts of the opposite forces. I
shall, therefore, take it as a great favor, and in accordance with
many others received at the hands of your excellency, if such flag
of truce and escort shall be furnished me to-morrow morning.
I have the honor to renew my assurances of my most distinguished
consideration.
His Excellency Marshal Lopez, President of
Paraguay.
Mr. Washburn to the Marquis de Caxias
In front of Paraguay Army,
March 11, 1867.
Sir: The undersigned, minister of the
United States resident in Paraguay, has the honor to inform your
excellency that on the 28th of December last he received several
despatches from his government, which were transmitted to him under
a flag of truce by his excellency General Mitre, President of the
Argentine Republic, and at that time commander-in-chief of the
allied army.
In one of these despatches the undersigned was instructed by the Hon.
William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and by direction of the
President of the United States, that, in view of the war, already
long protracted, between the republic of Paraguay on the one hand
and the empire of Brazil, the Argentine Republic, and the Oriental
Republic of Uruguay on the other, to offer his services in the way
of mediation whenever, in his opinion, such services might be
acceptable to the belligerent parties or they might be made
available in an arrangement of the existing hostilities.
At the same time the undersigned was advised by his government that a
similar instruction had been sent to his colleagues, the United
States ministers at Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Ayres, respectively;
and each one of the three, including the undersigned, was directed
to manifest the interest which the government and people of the
United States felt in the re-establishment of peace between the now
hostile powers, by offering such friendly mediation as might be
conducive to that result. The undersigned was also instructed that
he would offer his services either alone or conjointly with his
colleagues at Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Ayres, as circumstances
might require.
[Page 719]
From one of these colleagues, Mr. Asboth, minister resident for the
United States in Buenos Ayres, the undersigned has received a
despatch bearing date December 18, 1866, advising him that his
services would be promptly offered to the government at Buenos
Ayres, as directed by the President of the United States. The
undersigned, accordingly, has been waiting for further information
from his colleague in Buenos Ayres as to the manner in which this
offer was received by the allied authorities. He therefore forbore
taking any action in the matter till it seemed to him imperative
that he should communicate with his government. Having been unable
to receive or transmit anything through the military lines of the
opposing armies, he is necessarily ignorant of what has been done by
his colleagues, and his position is such that it is his imperative
duty to make every effort to send his correspondence through the
lines and receive whatever may have accumulated for him on the other
side.
These circumstances having been made known to his Excellency Marshal
Lopez, President of Paraguay, the undersigned has been offered every
facility by him for the accomplishment of his object, and he
therefore addresses this note to your excellency the Marquis de
Caxias, in full confidence that similar facilities will be afforded
him on the part of the allies as of Paraguay.
The undersigned, from the isolated position which he has been in
since the receipt of his last despatches, necessarily cannot know
where the correspondence for him between Washington and Paraguay may
now be, or how long a time would be required for him to receive it,
were he to pass through the lines to the camp of your excellency.
Were it in his hands he does not know how far more recent
instructions might modify previous ones, or what his duties might
then be. He therefore trusts that your excellency will grant him
such facilities as may be necessary to obtain it, and that if
anything may have been forwarded to the care of your excellency by
the United States minister in Buenos Ayres or other agent of the
United States government, as was previously forwarded to President
Mitre, it may be passed to him; and that if no such correspondence
may have been received he may be enabled to go or send for it. The
undersigned would also be pleased to have an interview with your
excellency, as he has reason to believe that the mediation of the
United States would not be refused by Paraguay; and he indulges the
hope that such interview would facilitate rather than hinder such an
arrangement of the pending strife as would be advantageous, not only
to the nations engaged in it, but to all others whose commercial
interests are necessarily so affected by the war as to render them
desirous to see peace restored. Under these circumstances he has
come down from the capital of Paraguay to the front, both to send
forward and obtain his correspondence, and, at the same time, to
carry out the instructions of his government in regard to its
friendly mediation; and now, awaiting the reply of your excellency,
he takes this occasion to offer the assurance of his most
distinguished consideration.
His Excellency the Marquis de Caxias,
General and Commander-in-chief of the Allied
Armies.
[Translation.]
The Marquis de Caxias to
Mr. Washburn
Encampment of the Allied Forces at
Tuyuty,
March 12, 1867.
Most Illustrious and Excellent Sir: Before
answering your note of the 11th instant, which was handed to me by
yourself I deem it my duty to state how you came to this encampment,
and what occurred at our interview.
Observing a parley signal within the enemy’s lines, I gave orders for
inquiries about it, and learned it was sent by the minister of the
United States of America near the republic of Paraguay, to ask an
interview with me, without any authority from the government to
which he was accredited. In such a case I could not refuse to
receive you, accompanied by my chief of staff, at my
headquarters.
Your excellency must know that the empire of Brazil has loyal and
faithful allies in the Argentine Republic and the Oriental Republic
of Uruguay in this war, which was brought on by the unjust conduct
of the government of Paraguay. This alliance was formed by a solemn
treaty between the three powers. Your excellency is doubtless
acquainted with its terms*
I assure you the empire of Brazil and her allies will adhere to their
firm resolve not to admit any negotiations tending to the conclusion
of the war that do not exact the resignation of President Lopez and
his departure from Paraguay.
Grateful as the empire of Brazil and its allies may be to the
republic of the United States for their wishes and efforts to end
the war, they insist upon the execution of the above-mentioned
clause, to which the pride of the respective nations is bound,
because it has been so grossly insulted by the Paraguay
government.
In thus answering your note, I leave it to your enlightened
understanding to judge how improper it would be to allow your
excellency to visit my quarters whenever you pleased, to get
information for your government.
I embrace this occasion to assure you of my very distinguished
consideration.
[Page 720]
Mr. Washburn to the Marquis de Caxias
Legation of the United
States, Asuncion,
March 19, 1867.
Sir: The note of your excellency, bearing
date the 12th instant, in answer to that of the undersigned of the
11th, in which, for reasons therein given, your excellency says that
the allied powers will not even take into consideration a question
to which the undersigned had the honor to call your attention,
seems, owing to the circumstances in which he is placed, being so
situated that he can communicate with his government only at distant
and uncertain periods, and at great inconvenience, to require a
reply from him in behalf of the United States.
Your excellency must be fully aware of the fact that the United
States, in offering their mediation to bring about a cessation of
hostilities between the allied powers and Paraguay, were actuated
only by the most laudable desire to be of service to all parties
engaged in the war, as well as to conserve the general interests of
peace in which all the world is concerned. But your excellency meets
the offer by stipulating a condition precedent to even considering
the question of mediation. This condition is that the President of
Paraguay now in authority shall first abdicate his office and leave
the country. It certainly could never have been the intention of the
government of the United States to offer its mediation on any such
presupposed basis. The fundamental principle of that government is
that the people of every nation have a clear and unquestionable
right to that form of government which they shall select, and that
all just powers emanate from the consent of the governed; that no
foreign power has a right to impose on a neighboring and independent
country a government not selected by its people, and as the people
of Paraguay have never evinced a desire to change their form of
government, or to place at the head of it any other than the present
chief magistrate, the government of the United States cannot,
consistently with its traditional policy, regard with favor the
treaty of alliance by which the three powers bound themselves to
impose other authority than the present on the people of
Paraguay.
But the allied powers, as appears by the note of your excellency, are
resolved to prosecute the war until the present duly elected
President of the republic, Francisco Solano Lopez, may be deposed
and driven from the country.
This condition precedent to mediation is certainly so antagonistic to
all ideas of national self-government, that the undersigned believes
it to be his duty to his government, that never could have
contemplated such a reply to its offer of mediation, to protest
against it; and the undersigned is of the opinion that your
excellency would regard it as extraordinary were the circumstances
reversed, and a similar demand on the part of President Lopez made a
condition precedent to mediation, and he should require as a
preliminary condition that the Emperor of Brazil should abdicate his
throne, and President Mitre his presidential chair. How such a reply
to the offer of a neutral and friendly power would be justly
regarded by the government of the United States, or by that of his
imperial Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, the undersigned leaves for
the consideration of your excellency.
The position thus taken by the allies that no mediation can be
entertained until one of the parties concerned no longer has a
political existence, appears to render impossible anything like a
peaceful solution of the impending strife, and the war must
accordingly go on till one of them from its chief to its last squad
of soldiers is destroyed, or the other becomes worn out and
exhausted. Either of these results the government of the United
States would deeply deplore, and in offering its mediation its
object was to avert such a catastrophe. But its good offices being
refused, and even denied a hearing, it can only wait with deep
interest the impending issue.
The undersigned avails himself of the present occasion to tender to
your excellency the assurances of his distinguished
consideration.
His Excellency the Marquis de Caxias,
General and Gommander-in chief of the Allied Army.
Mr. Washburn to Señor Berges
Legation of the United
States, Asunoion,
March 20, 1807.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 4th instant, in answer to mine of the
5th of January last, in which I had the honor to inform your
excellency of the interest taken by my government in the welfare of
Paraguay, and its desire that its ministers accredited to it and the
countries allied against it should exert their good offices in the
way of mediation, if it should appear that such mediation might be
accepted.
Your excellency remarks that his Excellency President Lopez is, and
has always been, disposed to treat with the allied powers on such
terms as would be consistent with the rights
[Page 721]
and dignity of Paraguay, as was manifested by
him in the interview which he had with the commander-in-chief of the
allied armies, General Bartolome Mitre, President of the Argentine
Republic; and that any mediation of a friendly power like that of
the United States, which should secure an honorable and satisfactory
arrangement of the pending hostilities, would not be refused by the
government of Paraguay. This frank and conciliatory answer rendered
it necessary for me to proceed to the encampment of the allies to
ascertain if the same offer which I was aware had been made to them
had been accepted or rejected. I should, however, have waited for
information on that point to come from the other side, but for the
fact that I had not received my correspondence for several months
from the other side, and I had several despatches for my government,
and private letters of much importance to myself, that I desired to
send forward to their destination.
With these motives I requested of his Excellency Marshal Lopez that
he would furnish me a flag of truce and adequate escort to conduct
me through the military lines to the allied camp. With that
characteristic courtesy that I have always received at his hands he
promptly acceded to my request, and gave the necessary orders that I
might pass with convenience and security. Accordingly I passed over
to the other camp, and having had an interview with the
commander-in-chief, the Marquis de Caxias, I communicated to him, in
a formal official note, my object in thus coming into his camp.
Before reading my note he requested to know if I had come on
business of myself or my government, or at the instance of Marshal
Lopez.
I replied I had come at my own desire, and in no respect at the
instance or request of his Excellency the President of Paraguay.
He then had the letter translated, and on the following day returned
an answer, a copy of which I have the honor to enclose herewith.
Having attended to the matter of my correspondence I returned to the
headquarters of the Paraguayan army, where I arrived on the morning
of the 14th instant. Since my return I have addressed a second note
to the Marquis de Caxias, in which I state my objections to the
position assumed by the allies in making as a condition precedent to
the acceptance of mediation the abdication of authority by the
present chief magistrate of Paraguay. Though contrary to the rules
and customs of my government to furnish copies of correspondence
till authorized to do so, I notwithstanding send to your excellency
copies of these notes to the Marquis de Caxias, as well as of his
note to me, as it is but right, that your government should be fully
informed of the way the offer of mediation on the part of the United
States had been received by the allies.
I take this occasion to offer to your excellency the assurances of my
distinguished consideration.
His Excellency José Berges, Minister far
Foreign, Affairs.
