Manoel Francisco Correia to To His Excellency, October 7, 1872

No. 2. Note from the imperial government to the Argentine legation.

The undersigned, of the council of His Majesty the Emperor, and minister and secretary of state for foreign affairs, has the honor to respond to the note of the 3d instant, which was directed to him by His Excellency Brigadier General D. Bartolomé Mitre, envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary on special mission from the Argentine Republic.

As Señor Mitre knows, the only obstacle which delayed the progress of the negotiation, committed on the part of the republic to his excellency, was the state of affairs resulting from the direct discussion between the two governments, which could not be regarded as final with the Argentine note of the 27th April and that of the imperial government of the 20th June.

The impression produced by the note of the 27th of April having been dispelled by that of the 25th of last month, the same friendly spirit being manifest; in the general thought of the official documents of the Argentine department of foreign affairs, the benevolent relations of the two governments have been honorably and cordially re-established.

Thus, happily, the opportunity presents itself for the imperial government to hear the proposition for an agreement, which the wisdom of the Argentine government had suggested, in view of the official declarations which had been directed to it; and the undersigned takes pleasure in confirming what he said, not only in the notes of the 22d of March and the 20th of June, but also in the private conferences with Seiior Mitre, giving testimony that the imperial government never thought of violating the alliance of 1865, but rather sought always to maintain it without the least break, and in such a way that it might prove as honorable and beneficent in peace as it had been during war.

The undersigned has expressed, since the note of the 20th of June, that the basis of agreement proposed by the minister of foreign affairs of the Argentine Republic to Baron Cotegipe was acceptable, and, in fact, was not prejudiced by any act of the imperial government. If, then, this point of departure, which could not be declined by Brazil, since it related to the substance of the treaties celebrated by that government, promises, as Señor Mitre believes, the satisfactory solution which both governments desire, the imperial government accepts with great pleasure the way indicated by his excellency as proper for facilitating a prompt and happy issue to his mission, although it would seem more convenient that at, this negotiation the third ally should he present, and that previously, or at the same time, Paraguay should he heard.

The undersigned, reiterating the assurance already expressed, of the pacific, just, and friendly dispositions of the imperial government, takes pleasure in communicating to Señor Mitre that His Majesty the Emperor has seen fit to appoint the Viscount of Sâo Vicente as his plenipotentiary for this negotiation.

The Brazilian plenipotentiary will shortly invite the Argentine plenipotentiary to open the conferences, from which both nations ought to hope for the maintenance of such a cordial understanding as corresponds with their antecedents and is loudly demanded, not only by their own mutual interests, but also by those of the civilized world.

The undersigned improves the opportunity to reiterate to the señor minister the assurances of his highest consideration.