Melquiades Valderrama to Thomas O. Osborn, October 7, 1880

Mr. Valderrama to Mr. Osborn.

Sir: I have received the note which you were pleased to address to me under date of yesterday. After recalling therein the steps you have taken with a view to ascertaining if my government were disposed to enter upon the peace conference with the other belligerents under the mediation in the form of good offices of the United States, and recalling, also, the favorable disposition shown by my government provided that those of Peru and Bolivia should accept on their part a like suggestion, you inform me that this condition having been already complied with, the time has come to offer formally to the Government of Chili, as you now do, the mediation of the United States.

His Excellency the President of the Republic, to whose knowledge I have brought your dispatch, has charged me to convey to you the expression of his gratitude for the noble interest with which the Government of the United States endeavors to bring about the restoration of peace between Chili and the allied republics.

My government accepts the mediation in the form of good offices which you offer to me in the name of the United States, likewise the proceeding which you suggest to carry it into effect.

I must, before all, repeat here, in order to avoid doubts and ambiguities, that this acceptance does not involve the suspension of all hostilities.

I improve this opportunity to renew to you the sentiments of high consideration with which I have the honor to subscribe myself.