Walker Blaine to Señor Balmaceda, February 22, 1882

Mr. Walker Blaine to Señor Balmaceda.

Sir: In transmitting, at your request, a copy of the invitation of the President of the United States to his excellency the President of the Republic of Chili to send representatives to a. congress of the nations of North and South America, which it is proposed to hold in Washington in the month of November next, I beg to furnish to your excellency some indication of the arrangements which my government proposes to make to facilitate the labors of the congress.

I am instructed to say that it is designed that the congress shall be held under the auspices of the Government of the United States, which, to that end, will supply suitable hall for the meetings of the commissioners, will take charge of all the necessary arrangements, and, at its own expense, will meet all the material requirements of the congress, reporting and interpreting the proceedings and printing the resultant protocols in Spanish and English for the use of all the parties. Secretaries, clerks, and copyists in both languages will be provided and paid by the United States—no expense being left to the invited countries except the maintenance of their own commissioners.

I avail, &c.,