Alexander S. Asboth to “His Excellency Señor Dr. Don Rufuino de Elizalde, “, March 23, 1867
Mr. Asboth to Admiral Godon
Sir: Although our war is over, and we are happily at peace with all the world, I have been once more disabled by an unfortunate accident, owing to which the imperfect union of an old fracture of my left arm has given way, and I have to request that you will be pleased to attribute to this accident my delay in writing to you, and accept now, with forbearance, the following information, viz:
On the 2d instant I received, through Lieutenant Commander Kirkland, your third letter in answer to my note of the 16th of February last, in which I made request for a steamer to enable me to communicate in person with the Hon. Charles A. Washburn, on the Paraguayan lines. In this letter you stated that you had ordered the Wasp, Lieutenant Commander Kirkland, commanding, to Buenos Ayres, with instructions to proceed, after receiving my despatches for our minister in Paraguay, without delay, to Tuyuti, or wherever the headquarters of the allied army may be, and deliver the despatches to Mr. Washburn, detaining his vessel a reasonable time for any communication he (Mr. Washburn) may have for the United States government or for myself.
On the day that this reply reached me, after a personal conference with the minister for foreign affairs, I addressed to him the following note, viz:
“No .6.]
Legation of the United States, “ Buneos Ayres, March 2, 1867.
“Sir: Rear-Admiral S. W. Godon, United States navy, commanding South Atlantic squadron, has, at my request, sent the United States steamer Wasp, Lieutenant Commander Kirkland, commanding, from Montevideo to this harbor, with instructions to receive my official despatches for the Hon. Charles A. Washburn, United States minister in Paraguay, and to proceed, without delay, to the headquarters of the allied armies, or to such a point up the river as will enable him to deliver the despatches, of which he is the bearer, to Mr. Washburn, in person, detaining his vessel a reasonable time for any communications Mr. Washburn may have either for the United States government or for myself.
“Of this arrangement I have the honor to inform herewith your excellency, and beg to request at the same time that, on account of the absence from headquarters of his excellency Brigadier General Don Bartolome Mitre, President of the Argentine Republic, and commander-in-chief of the allied armies against Paraguay, you may be pleased to favor Lieutenant Commander Kirkland with such a letter of introduction and safe conduct to the proper commanding officer in the field as will insure the intended exchange of official despatches with the minister resident of the United States in Paraguay.
“I have the honor to be, sir, with distinguished consideration, your obedient servant,
“His Excellency Señor Dr. Don Rufuino de Elizalde, “Minister for Foreign Affairs.”
Owing to the three days’ carnival festivities, I received only on the 8th instant the answer from the Argentine government, complying in a satisfactory manner with my request, and enclosing open orders to Marshal Marquis de Caxias to forward by a flag of truce to the Paraguayan camp the official communications, recommending him at the same time to allow the bearer of the despatches to pass over to the enemy’s camp to receive in return Mr. Washburn’s answer.
I at once informed Lieutenant Commander Kirkland of this result. but as it was my original intention, besides the exchange of official despatches with Mr. Washburn, to have also a personal interview with him, and as neither of the three letters received from you contained any direct answer touching this my desire, I deemed it proper to request Commander Kirkland to inform me whether his special instructions from you were in any way conflicting with my intention to meet Mr. Washburn in person. Commander Kirkland in his reply, received the 9th instant, stated “that his instructions only require him to carry despatches.” This answer, placing beyond any doubt that the arrangements made by you were not calculated to facilitate my purpose of conferring with Mr. Washburn in person, I transmitted to Commander Kirkland on the same day, the 9th instant, the open orders addressed to Marshal Marquis de Caxias by the Argentine government in concurrence with the Brazilian legation and the Oriental government, informing him (Commander Kirkland) at the same time that the despatches could be ready the next morning at 8 o’clock.
Commander Kirkland, in his reply of the same date, stated that he would send from his vessel an officer to receive at the appointed hour the despatches from this legation.
The following morning, the 10th instant, Lieutenant Commander Mitchell signed a receipt for the despatches, and half an hour afterwards the United States steamer Wasp weighed anchor and sailed up the river Plate towards Paraguay.
Thus, although the opportunity of meeting and conferring in person with our minister in Paraguay on the important subject of the pending mediation has not been afforded to me, I have to thank you for having kindly lent your assistance in securing at least a safe exchange of official despatches with the Hon. Charles A. Washburn on the Paraguyan lines, the result of which will, no doubt, be beneficial to all parties concerned.
I hope that you will be pleased kindly to accept this communication, as also an explanation to the inquiry with which you honored me under date of the 8th instant.
In conclusion I beg leave to inform you, that my report to the State Department relative to the above subject was concluded as follows:
“Although I feel well assured that the admiral is actuated, as I am, by the same sincere desire to promote the best interests of our government, nevertheless I deem it proper, while submitting without comment our conflicting views to your decision, to request at the same time that you may be pleased to define for my future guidance the reciprocal duties and obligations incumbent upon ministers resident and admirals abroad, under similar circumstances.”
In making the above request I have been guided, not only by a desire fully to do my duty, but also by my anxiety to avoid for the future any unpleasantness that may arise to myself in asking, and to others in refusing, compliance with what I had not a right to expect.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Rear-Admiral S. W. Godon, United States Navy, Commanding South Atlantic Squadron.