Inasmuch as a translation of the protocols will be furnished by Mr.
Christiancy, I transmit herewith only that of the report itself.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
46.—Translation.]
Report of the Bolivian
plenipotentiaries.
Plenipotentiaries of Bolivia on Special
Mission,
La Paz,
November 5, 1880.
To the Minister of State and
Foreign Relations:
Sir: We have the honor to transmit to the
department with this report the autograph protocols of the peace
conferences which have taken place in the waters of
[Page 78]
Arica and on board of the American corvette
Lackawanna, between the plenipotentiaries of the three republics engaged
in the present struggle of the Pacific.
In accord with the high and sincere sentiments of the national
government, we have tried, with decided ardor, to arrive at an
arrangement for peace compatible with the honor of the allied republics
and the great interests of South America.
We understood that such result would not be probable if we did not accept
to a certain extent the necessary effects produced by the advantages
gained on the battlefield. This consideration induced us to calculate
quietly the favorable results which the allies might obtain, as well as
the sacrifices which they might have to make without loss of dignity,
not vaguely invoked, but defined in the course of events.
At the first step of the negotiations the designation of the place for
the conferences became a point of diplomatic consideration, and might
have definitely made these impossible. To obviate this incident, we
agreed that one of us should go to Arica on a particular mission,
accompanied by their excellencies the American ministers, Messrs.
Christiancy and Adams, which was done with the consent of their
excellencies the plenipotentiaries of Peru. There we were enabled to
speak to the delegate from the most excellent the Government of Chili,
who transmitted to it our different conciliatory propositions, which
were, however, decidedly rejected. On our responsibility thereupon, we
chose that the negotiations should take place on board of the corvette
Lackawanna, in the waters of Arica. The estimable arguments of their
excellencies the ministers of the United States in the same sense
facilitated the final opening of the conferences.
In these we maintained the same spirit which animated us. In the first we
expressed our hope that the most excellent negotiators might consider
the subject in accordance with its responsibility and as Americans,
putting aside the inspirations of interior politics and the popular
clamor of the day, considering only the serious and permanent
necessities of the three republics. Our confidence in the noble action
of the United States was strengthened above all when we heard his
excellency Mr. Osborn, as organ of his colleagues and appreciating
exactly one point in our history, declare in these words, “That for the
first time the institutions of our continent were on trial.”
Notwithstanding that the propositions of Chili when presented were of
such a character as to shut off all discussion, we endeavored to
maintain it patiently in the limits of natural development.
Consequently we introduced for the sake of peace and the high interests
of America what we thought a measure of conciliation, counting upon the
approbation of our government. Its sense and deductions, as well as the
substance of our observations, are contained in the proper protocol. We
will only add that their excellencies the plenipotentiaries of Chili
declared this measure inconvenient and opposed to their
instructions.
We favored decidedly the arbitration proposed by their excellencies the
ministers of Peru, and did not omit to show all the advantages held out
by this means even to the Republic of Chili.
Nothing was sufficient to change the unalterable resolution maintained by
their excellencies the plenipotentiaries of Chili in regard to the
definite annexation of all the Bolivian coast, and that of Peru as far
as Camorones, as a basis sine qua non of any
arrangement.
With satisfaction we have to refer to the distinguished attitude of their
excellencies the plenipotentiaries of Peru in discharging their delicate
and difficult task, wherein they were assisted materially by their clear
and practical reasoning.
We also express our acknowledgments of the personal efforts of their
excellencies the ministers of the United States, and we are well aware
of what we owe to those particularly employed by his excellency Mr.
Charles Adams; but, considering the antecedents of the mediation and the
high object manifested in the first conference, we cannot conceal our
lively regrets that it was not possible for the most excellent mediators
to assume a different diplomatic attitude from that which his excellency
Mr. Osborn marked out, and which reduced itself to a polite invitation
to meet and preside over our discussions, without giving their presence
any other character than that of the most simple and initiatory good
offices.
Our efforts to re-establish an honorable and secure peace between the
three republics have been without result. Arbitration, the most
dignified mode of settling disputes among civilized nations, has been
rejected. America will decide on which side justice remains.
Begging you to bring this report, with the protocols attached, to the
knowledge of the President of the Republic, we herewith tender our
respects and subscribe ourselves.
Your very, &c.,
- MARIANO BAPTISTA.
- JUAN C. CARRILLO.
