Mariano Castro Zaldivar to the joint note of protest concerning the debt stipulations of the chili-peruvian treaty of peace, March 27, 1884

reply to the joint note of protest concerning the debt stipulations of the chili-peruvian treaty of peace.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your dispatch of yesterday’s date, in which you are good enough to inform me that in obedience to the instructions you have received from your Government, you place in my hands the identical note, the sending of which you announced to this ministry on the 20th of February last, signed by the European powers, which appear to have framed the protest against some of the articles of the treaty of peace and friendship concluded on the 20th of October, 1883, between Peru and Chili, which, as you are aware, is already a law of the Republic, having been approved by constituent national assembly and ratified by the executive power.

I have to state to you in reply, even without taking into account the fact above mentioned, that it is not possible to consider the contents of the said note so long as my Government is not officially and directly recognized by that you so worthily represent.

When that recognition has taken place my Government will return an appropriate answer, in accordance with principles of justice and that loyalty which has always characterized the international policy of Peru, without forgetting her rights as a sovereign and independent nation.