Alexander S. Asboth to William H. Seward, April 12, 1867

Mr. Asboth to Mr. Seward

Sir: I have the honor to forward the copy, marked A, of a note just received from Senor de Elizalde, the Argentine minister for foreign affairs, and of which the following is a translation:

Office of Foreign Relations, Buenos Ayres, April 11, 1867.

To his Excellency the Minister Resident of the United States, General Alexander Asboth:

I have the honor to forward to your excellency the enclosed publication, containing the memorandum addressed by this government to the diplomatic agents of the republic, in consequence of the note addressed by the government of Paraguay to Mr. Washburn, minister resident of the United States in that republic.

While begging that your excellency may be pleased to bring this document under the notice of your government, I am happy to renew the assurances of my most high and distinguished consideration.

RUFINO DE ELIZALDE.

While forwarding, in accordance with Señor de Elizalde’s request, the printed document in question, marked B, which want of time, as the mail steamer is leaving to-day, prevents my having translated, I beg to transmit, under enclosure C, in the original Spanish, the note of Señor Don José Berges, the Paraguayan minister for foreign affairs, to Mr. Washburn, dated 24th ultimo, and also, in an extract marked D. from the Standard newspaper, the mediation notes published by the Argentine government, wherein is included the translation of the above note of the Paraguayan government.

In connection with these documents, I take occasion to state that the publication of Señor Berges’ note to Mr. Washburn seems to have exasperated the allies and rendered them, for the moment, inaccessible to all arguments for a peaceful solution of the contest with Paraguay. I am not, however, without hope that the present excitement may subside in a few days, and that my last note to Señor de Elizalde, reported in my despatch No. 20, of the 10th of this month, which is not yet published, may assist in bringing the Argentine government back to more peaceful views. Confident, as I am, that my worthy colleagues in Rio de Janeiro and Asuncion will also continue within their respective missions to persevere with moderation in furthering the humane views of our government, I further hope that the negotiations for peace may still be crowned with success.

As a proof how little the views of the allied governments meet with the approval of the people at large in the river Plata, I bag to enclose in addition an extract marked E, from the Siglo, a well-accredited paper published in Montevideo, commenting upon the mediation notes, and advocating peace and the withdrawal of the Uruguay republic from the alliance.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,