To His Excellency Dr. Tejedor to To his excellency the councilor Dr. Manoel Francisco Correia, September 25, 1872

Note from the Argentine government to the imperial government.

Mr. Minister: I have had the honor to receive the notes of your excellency of the 20th and 21st of June, and the memorandum, which accompanied them.

In the note of June 20, your excellency said that notwithstanding the first “impression created by certain observations, which might seem international offenses, considering that the” Argentine government had declared in the note of 27th of April that it had used the greatest frankness, and that therefore its protests of pacific and friendly sentiments should have the same character, the imperial government resolved to answer it, influenced by those declarations, and especially by those which were most solemnly expressed by His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, and His Excellency the President of the Argentine Republic, in their recent addresses to their respective nations.”

The imperial government does justice to the republic in giving to the language and views of the note of the 27th of April the only interpretation compatible with the frank protests of pacific and friendly sentiments which are contained in it, and which it is gratifying to repeat on this occasion, since there was no intention to offend the amour propre and dignity of Brazil, but rather a desire to maintain the inviolability of the treaty of alliance, in which is involved the public faith of three nations.

The Argentine government, rendering equal justice to that of the empire, interpreted in the same spirit certain propositions, contained in the above-mentioned note of the 20th of June, which might have a less friendly meaning, (if not offensive, at least, would seem contrary to the duties and obligations of the alliance,) and renders on her part due honor to the protests of friendship and the assurances which have been given to maintain the compromises of the treaty of the 1st of May.

The Argentine government therefore believes that, having made the requisite declarations on both sides, there is no convenience in prolonging a discussion which might postpone a cordial understanding such as ought to subsist between allies who have fought side by side for five years to secure peace in these regions, all of them (allies) being equally interested in maintaining those compromises to the end that there may be a fruitful and lasting peace.

This consideration, and that of having resolved before the reception of the above-mentioned notes to send to the imperial government a minister of high character and armed with full powers to adjust pending questions, induces the Argentine government to limit its reply to what is here expressed, referring for the rest to what that minister may have declared or may hereafter declare in its name.

The Argentine government thinks that with the transference of the discussion to the arena of diplomacy it will be easier to maintain those cordial relations which might be endangered by a direct exchange of notes. Such notes, unexplained, might go beyond the benevolent intentions of both governments.

I improve the opportunity to reiterate to your excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.