Hermenegildo Carrillo to Charles Adams, March 25, 1882

Señor Carrillo to Mr. Adams

Sir: The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Bolivia accredited near the Government of Peru, is informed of the early arrival of Mr. Walker Blaine at the port of Mollendo, charged with a special mission from the United States, in order to have an interview with your excellency, and, as the distance prevents the Government of Bolivia from taking advantage of this opportunity to obtain some data necessary to the development of its policy, the undersigned takes the liberty of asking your excellency to please to make clear in the said interview the points contained in this letter.

In the protocol of the 11th of February last, signed by the Chilian minister of foreign affairs and his excellency Mr. W. H. Trescot, special envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, it is stated that “the mediation (of the United States) does not conform to the convenience of the belligerents, nor is it solicited by Chili,” and it is added that, eliminating from all discussion the possibility of armed intervention, the United States “will offer its mediation only in case that the belligerents shall manifest a desire of obtaining it, and when its acceptance will conduce to results satisfactory to both.” At the same time it is declared, in the third clause, that the mediation of the United States is a point eliminated from all discussion and definitely concluded

Notwithstanding that the allied governments have shown by their official acts a respectful deference to the conciliatory policy of the United States, confiding in its efficacious influence for the restoration of peace, the declaration just recited leads one to consider that the new action upon which the government of your excellency entered, after the conference at Arica, in the present international conflict upon the Pacific, is definitely ended and withdrawn.

This consideration and the fact that no mention is made of the republic of Bolivia in the conference at Santiago, nor in the agreement signed at Viña del Mar, notwithstanding that, in consequence of the declarations made by your excellency in your respectful note of the 10th of January last, addressed to the Bolivian cabinet, all action was suspended until the result of the mission of Mr. Trescot should be made known, have determined the undersigned to interest your excellency in order that, in your approaching interview with Mr. Blaine, the reasons may, so far as possible, be made clear why Bolivia was not mentioned in the matters already referred to, and at the same time a declaration may be obtained as to the true meaning and extent of the conclusions of the aforesaid protocol relative to the mediation of the Government of the United States with regard to the three belligerent nations. The undersigned does not doubt that your excellency will entertain the present suggestion, as it will show the Government of Bolivia another proof of that delicate attention which your excellency has shown in the discharge of the duties of your high office.

With every consideration, &c.,