[Translation.]
Mr. Tassara to Mr. Seward
Legation of Spain, Washington, December 14, 1865.
The undersigned, minister plenipotentiary of her Catholic Majesty, has
the honor to pass into the hands of the Secretary of State copy of a
despatch of the 25th November last, which he has just received from his
government, according to which the commandant general of the naval
forces of her Majesty in the Pacific will permit, as has until now been
done, the entry and departure of the public correspondence at the
blockaded ports of Chili, in the mode expressed in the same despatch,
and upon express condition that in the same way the official
correspondence of the Spanish government should be carried.
The undersigned wails of this fresh occasion to offer to the honorable
Secretary of State of the United States the assurance of his highest
consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c.,
&c.
[Translation.]
Mr. Bermudez de Castro to
Mr. Tassara
San Ildefonso,
November 25, 1865.
Your Excellency: Under this date I say to
the commandant general of the naval forces of her Majesty in the
Pacific as follows:
“The ambassador of France at Madrid has expressed the wish of his
government that orders may be given you to permit the entry and
departure of the public correspondence at the blockade ports of
Chili. I have replied, through the medium of the Queen’s ambassador
[Page 584] at Paris, that no
inconvenience was seen in acceding to this intimation, but that it
must be kept in mind in this respect that your excellency, far from
placing obstacles in the way of the realization of this wish, had
shown yourself disposed from the beginning to facilitate it by
bringing about an agreement with the captain of the British ship of
the line, which arrived at Valparaiso soon after the declaration of
the blockade, and that certainly it was not your fault if such agent
did not respond to your invitation, and refused to receive official
despatches addressed to the Spanish government, giving evidence of
improper partiality by a functionary charged with a public and
retributory service. In conformity with the answer given to the
French government, you will please to direct that vessels which
carry the public mails shall lie to at the entrance to the blockade
ports, that their boat or some other belonging to the Spanish ships
of war may carry the mails ashore, and there collect such as may
there be delivered to them; but if, notwithstanding this show of
forbearance on our part, the English agents or those in charge of
the mails shall refuse to receive the official despatches of the
Spanish squadron, you will prevent any communication with the ports
of the republic, as we cannot admit a difference so offensive and
prejudicial to Spain. Notice of this determination is given to the
governments of France, England, the United States, Ecuador, and
Peru,” which I communicate to you for your information, and that you
may advise the Secretary of State of the United States thereof. God,
&c.
The Minister Plenipotentiary
of her Majesty at Washington.