Bartolome Mitre to Charles Ames Washburn, April 9, 1866

President Mitre to Mr. Washburn.

Subsequently to the conference which I had with your excellency, and having deliberated thereon with the allied chiefs, Admiral Tamandare also being present, I have the honor to confirm what I had previously manifested to you when you did me the honor of visiting me at my quarters, viz: that I did not think that there would be any objection offered to your passing onward to the Paraguayan territory, (although there was a blockade in operation,) in the prosecution of the mission on which your government had sent you to that of Paraguay, but that I referred the subject to the Argentine government, in accordance with the allied governments. Your excellency having returned to Buenos Ayres and had an interview with the minister of foreign affairs of the Argentine Republic, who previously had come to an understanding with the Brazilian minister at Buenos Ayres, the said minister of foreign affairs stated to you that there was no hindrance to your proceeding on your voyage in a neutral vessel to the first military post in Paraguay, notwithstanding the state of the blockade which might oppose it. That was when there was but a simple blockade and not a line of war, and happened about the end of February.

In virtue of this you decided upon going, and on the 2d of March left Buenos Ayres on the steamer Paysandie, which, having run aground en route and remained aground for more than twenty days, only arrived at Corrientes about the end of March, I having only just had an interview with you to-day, 9th of April.

Had the steamer in which you came arrived in time—that is, while there was yet but a simple blockade—no obstruction whatever would have arisen to prevent the continuation of your voyage; besides, you would have found the allied squadron then at Corrientes prior to the opening of decisive operations of a warlike nature. But it did not happen so, and you have found the allied fleets in front of the Paraguayan positions, on the eve of commencing warlike operations; so that that which before would not have been an obstacle had now become an impracticable barrier, as the passing of it would establish a precedent through which all other neutrals would become possessed of the right to pass up or down, which of course would turn our line of operations into matters of no account, and would deprive us of what is incontestably a right of belligerents in analogous cases. Circumstances, therefore, having varied and changed completely, and the arrangement under which you started on your voyage to Paraguay having become so modified that it seems to me to be as well for your excellency to re-consult the Argentine government as to the best means of getting over this difficulty, so that we, acting in concert with our allies, may adopt a line of proceeding in this emergency; hoping that in the meantime your excellency will deign to suspend all action, either remaining at Corrientes or at Buenos Ayres, where I will make it my duty to impart to you whatever may transpire. Admiral Tamandare had an interview with the admiral of the United States, in which it was declared to him that, had the United States minister arrived at Corrientes before the allied fleets ascended the river to open military operations, he would not have encountered any difficulties whatever in continuing his way; but naval evolutions having commenced against the enemy, and the line of war extended, it was no longer possible for his excellency to go forward; to all of which the United States admiral agreed, adding, moreover, that the allies only made use of an unquestionable right in prohibiting any one from breaking the line of offensive operations.

Your excellency, therefore, not having been enabled to arrive just at the right opportunity, the previous arrangement, under which you supposed you would arrive at your destination having changed, it becomes void from the fact of its very base being different, and what was foreseen as likely to happen by Admiral Tamandare, and acquiesced in by the admiral of the United States, has occurred; and, in consequence, that which is most prudent and dignified for all concerned is that your excellency should again consult with the Argentine government, so that it and the allies being agreed as to what is to be done, it shall be intimated to us what we are to do, and I have no doubt that that intimation will be what is the most proper and expedient, considering the sympathy and friendship which we profess for the great republic of the United States, as well as the rights of the belligerents, compromised in this war to which they have been provoked.

With regard to your excellency, I flatter myself that you abound in feelings of a similar friendly nature, and that you will most cordially agree to this temporary delay which I propose to you, and which at the same time does homage to the dignity of all governments friendly to ourselves and to the legitimate rights of the belligerents—rights neither questioned by your excellency nor by the United States admiral.

I salute your excellency with my most distinguished consideration.