Thomas O. Osborn to Domingo Santa María Amuñátegui, February 23, 1880

Mr. Osborn to Mr. Amuñátegui.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your estemed note of the 20th instant, wherein your excellency is pleased to solicit the aid of this legation, as also that of my colleague in La Paz, in securing an exchange of prisoners of war with Bolivia.

Your excellency can rest assured that such aid as it may be in my power to render to your excellency’s government in this connection will be most cheerfully given, and I shall avail myself of the first mail which leaves for the north to communicate with the United States legation in La Paz on the subject, pursuant to the suggestion contained in your note.

It is possible, and I fear even probable, that my colleague in La Paz, Judge Pettis, has not yet returned from his home in the United States, whence he went in November last. He expected to return about this time, but I am as yet unadvised of his having reached his post. Nor have I, since his departure, had any correspondence with his legation, and I am quite ignorant regarding the person in whose hands it has been left. I judge, however, that the legation was placed in charge of some competent person, and that even though my colleague shall not have returned, my communication, upon its arrival in La Paz, will receive proper attention.

With sentiments of the highest consideration, &c.