De Long to the ministers of foreign affairs, September 3, 1872

Mr. De Long to the ministers of foreign affairs.

Your Excellencies: The undersigned has the honor to acknowledge the receipt by him this day of your note in reply to his own relative to the affair of the Maria Luz; also at the hands of your interpreter of copies of papers in the case, to wit: copies of the ship’s papers, copy of the note from Her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires to you, of date August 8, 1872, relative to the Maria Luz, and also copy of the findings of the Kencho in the Maria Luz examination.

For these very polite favors I thank your excellencies very much.

I beg to again repeat to your excellencies that in addressing you relative to this affair I had not nor have not any desire to influence your actions or opinions. I only sought to obtain information to lay the same before the Peruvian government; such information as I felt sure you would not only be willing to furnish to me, but to the whole world.

I had no desire to lead your excellencies into any argument in explanation or defense of the proceedings that have been taken. My every feeling is antagonistic to this so-called coolie-trade, in which this vessel, it appears, is engaged. I made my inquiries as representative of the United States, lending my good offices to a power friendly to my own to the extent only of obtaining an authentic history of an action that had been brought and tried in the courts of your country, in which persons and property Peruvian had been involved. I have heretofore made known to your excellencies’ predecessors my authority for extending my good offices in this empire to Peruvian citizens. I had supposed it assented to and allowed by your government, but by your note of to-day, and, further, by information derived from my interpreter, I learn that my right to this act is questioned.

I now have the honor to inclose to your excellencies a copy of a dispatch received by me from the honorable Secretary of State of the United States, requesting me to so act, and I beg your excellencies to make known to me if there is any, and, if so, what, objection on your part to my acting for Peruvian interests to the extent suggested.

I have, &c.,