Bartolomé Mitre to To his excellency Manoel Francisco Correia, October 3, 1872

No. 1. Note from the Argentine legation to the imperial government.

Mr. Minister: Having arrived at this capital on the 6th of July, and presented my credentials on the 9th, I had the honor of being received by His Majesty the Emperor on the 13th of the same month, being at once accredited and recognized in the quality of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary on special mission to the imperial government.

Upon my arrival at this capital, I found already answered, under date of the 20th of June, the notes which the Argentine government directed to the imperial government on the 27th of April. Thus the direct discussion of government with government was still going on; and so we concluded to await the reply of the Argentine government before entering upon the object of my mission.

The reply of the Argentine government reached the hands of your excellency direct on the 26th of July, and it having given place to some verbal explanations it was necessary to ask for new instructions in order to resolve this incident, which arose in a confidential and friendly manner as a question of form which was to be adjusted between the two governments through the medium of the undersigned.

This question of form was satisfactorily arranged by the exchange of notes which were verified yesterday upon the basis of a common agreement and reciprocity, not only as respects the framing of said notes, but also as regards the mutual friendly explanations therein contained. And so cordial relations were happily and honorably reestablished between both governments, not only as respects international duties, but also as regards the rights and obligations of the alliance of the 1st of May, 1865, of which Brazil and the Argentine Republic make part conjointly with the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

Thus the direct discussions of government with government having terminated, and your excellency having accepted the proposal to transfer it to the arena of diplomacy, agreeing also to refer further negotiations to plenipotentiaries who shall enter upon them “in the spirit of the most perfect understanding and best agreement between the two governments about the rights and obligations of the alliance of 1865,” the time has arrived to treat formally of the object of my special mission.

Having received from your excellency, in the course of our private conferences, testimonials of the most cordial friendship and assurances of an accord mutually satisfactory and honorable, based upon the agreement settled between the minister of foreign affairs of the republic and Baron de Cotegipe, and drawn up by the former—said agreement to be taken simply as a point of departure for subsequent negotiations—I trust that the object of my mission will be accomplished in such a manner that, in peace as in war, the compromises of the alliance will be observed, thus securing peace throughout this portion of America, and making even Paraguay a sharer in its benefits.

Thus officially reviewing what has passed, and proposing to your excellency to occupy myself henceforward with the special object of my mission, treating fully all pending questions until a perfect agreement is reached, I hope your excellency will be good enough to indicate the day and hour when we can have a conference, or will designate the plenipotentiary with whom I shall negotiate for the future.

With this view I salute his excellency the minister, repeating the assurances of my highest consideration.