Alvaro Covarrubias to The Envoy Extraordinary, & c ., & c ., & c, October 18, 1865

Mr. Covarrubias to Mr. Nelson.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive the note of yesterday with which your excellency was pleased to honor me, for the purpose of manifesting to my government, in pursuance of instructions from that of the United States, the propriety of submitting the decision of the questions which have recently been made the pretext for the unjustifiable aggression of Spain against the republic, to the arbitrament of a friendly power.

The benevolent terms in which your excellency makes this suggestion, the exact considerations upon which it is based, the fact that it was addressed at the same time to the cabinet at Madrid, as your excellency is pleased to inform me, all contribute to make evident to my government, as in truth it was seen in this step, a new pledge of the friendly interests of your excellency’s government in favor of the republic, and a motive for sincere gratitude therefor.

In the conciliatory and pacific views of the policy of my government, the employment of arbitration for the solution of its difficulties with the cabinet of Madrid naturally entered. But your excellency has been a witness of the rude development of the events which have kindled the war between Chili and Spain, a development to which my government has not co-operated, and which has only served to prevent it from recurring to any means of pacific solution.

The government of the United States could not have foreseen such an emergency when it addressed your excellency the instructions in question; it could not have foreseen that these would arrive in Chili when the opportunity for arbitration had already passed.

Nevertheless, my government, in its sincere solicitude for peace, and in its earnest and no less sincere desire to present a proof of friendly deference towards the suggestions of your excellency’s government, has endeavored to re-establish that lost opportunity, in order to render possible the proposed arbitration. This your excellency will be pleased to observe in my communication of this date to the honorable diplomatic corps resident in Santiago, whereof your excellency is the worthy dean.

The offer which your excellency is pleased to make of the good offices and friendly mediation of your government, to obtain the peaceful settlement alluded to, has had no little influence in this determination. While cordially grateful for so generous an offer, the government of the republic finds therein the prospect of an arbiter whose high impartiality and profound acquaintance with the legitimate interests of the two belligerent parties indicate it as most fitting to resolve the present question.

Will your excellency be pleased to transmit to your government, in the name of my own, this reply, and accept the reiterated expression of my most distinguished consideration and regard, with which I am your excellency’s most obedient servant,