Watson Webb to the President of the Argentine Republic, February 1, 1868
Mr. Webb to the President of the Argentine Republic.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United States, accredited to his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, has just been apprised of the death of the minister resident of the United States accredited to the Argentine Republic. This melancholy event leaves the United States without any representative near your excellency, invested with the necessary diplomatic powers, to convey to the Presidents of the Argentine and Uruguayan Republics a renewal of the tender of good offices made by the United States, in 1867, for the termination of the pending war between the allies and the republic of Paraguay. And, in consequence, it becomes the duty of the undersigned to transmit to your excellency a copy of a communication made by him to the government of Brazil on the 27th ultimo.
If the late minister to the Argentine Republic had been alive when the mail from Washington, of the 25th of December, 1867, reached Buenos Ayres, beyond all doubt he would have conveyed to your excellency a similar communication. But Providence having interposed to prevent such a proceeding, it devolves upon the undersigned to convey to your excellency the earnest desire of the people of the United States to see peace restored on the La Plata, and the tender of the good offices of their government, to aid in bringing to a close the pending war between the allies and Paraguay.
The undersigned, therefore, in transmitting to your excellency a copy of his communication to the government of Brazil, has the honor to request that you will be pleased to consider it addressed also to the government of the Argentine Republic. And the undersigned is most happy to avail himself of the opportunity thus presented of conveying to your excellency the expression of his personal esteem and most distinguished consideration.
J. WATSON WEBB.
His Excellency the President of the Argentine Republic.
N. B.—I addressed a precisely similar note to the President of Uruguay.
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