Mr. McMahon to Mr. Seward.
No. 7.]
Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil,
October 27, 1868.
Sir: Shortly after the departure of the mail
yesterday containing my dispatch of the 26th instant, numbered 6, I
received from Hon. James Watson Webb, envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary near the court of Brazil, a communication in relation to
the affairs of the Paraguayan mission, a copy of which I inclose, marked
A.
I had expected that this communication would contain an assurance that
the government of Brazil would oppose no military obstacles to my
passage up the river an assurance which I was directed in your dispatch
of September last, numbered 3, to obtain.
I find in General Webb’s communication no mention of this subject. I have
written to him in reply, calling his attention to the omission, and
adding that if it suits his view of duty I would be pleased to receive
from him the information I desire in an official note before the sailing
of the Guerriere. I inclose a copy of my reply, marked B.
Upon the subjects which are discussed in General Webb’s communication I
have no comment to make further than to remark that he did not, it
appears, correctly understand my intention and desire, so far as they
were communicated to him in the interview to which he refers. I will
leave this port to-morrow on the flag-ship Guerriere, in company with
Admiral Davis, as stated in my dispatch of yesterday. The other vessels
of the squadron sailed to-day to rendezvous at Montevideo.
The latest intelligence from Paraguay represents President Lopez as
occupying a strong position, strongly fortified, at Villeta, and the
position of the allied forces as somewhat critical, on account of the
swampy nature of the country and the great difficulty and expense of
obtaining supplies. I learn also that Señor Berges, former minister of
foreign affairs, alleged to have been executed for treason some months
since, is still alive, and that all prisoners held for political
offenses in Paraguay are treated with no unnecessary harshness.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
A.
[Extract.]
Mr. Webb to Mr. McMahon.
Legation of the United
States, Boa
Viagem,
October 23, 1868.
My Dear Sir: When you did me the honor to
call at this legation yesterday and intimated your intention to go
up to Asuncion accompanied by Admiral Davis and [Page 682] the smaller vessels of the United
States squadron, with a view of presenting your credentials to
President Lopez and demanding the release of the members of our
legation forcibly detained by him, I at once said that nothing of
the kind could be done without bringing deep disgrace upon our
country and rendering us the laughing stock of the world.* * * * * *
* *
To this you answered, that there were so many versions of what had
taken place in Paraguay, that you would not decide what to do until
you reached the La Plata. I replied, “That is an error; there is but
one version of the facts of the case to which you, I, or Admiral
Davis can refer, or which we can receive; and that version is
contained in the official report of your predecessor, the duly
accredited minister of the United States to Paraguay; and indorsed
by me, from my knowledge of the man and his official conduct.”
I then placed in your hands for perusal my correspondence with
Admiral Davis, urging him to employ the squadron under his command
for the sole and only purpose it is kept here, viz: the vindication
of our national honor and the protection of the commerce and lives
of our people, instead of keeping it idly in this harbor when the
ships of every other nationality are hastening to the scene of
outrage upon us, and, through us, upon the civilized world. You
proceeded to read what I placed in your hands; and when nearly
through with it, handed me your official instructions from the State
Department, directing you to see me, before you proceeded to the
river.
After you had finished reading the correspondence, upon which no
commentaries were made by either of us, you proceeded to detail your
programme on arrival at the La Plata. I listened, and said I did not
like to make any commentaries upon it, unless you requested me to do
so; although I fully admit, that on further reflection I should have
deemed it my duty to have earnestly protested against any such
proceeding, and distinctly have placed before you what I considered
to be your duty in the premises. You thought of addressing a letter
to the admiral, setting forth your official character, &c.,
&c., and that you desired to present your credentials and
deliver to Lopez certain very friendly messages and assurances from
the President, which letter the admiral might use. I advised against
any such proceeding and objected to your making any advances
whatever towards Lopez; the whole matter having entirely changed
since you were accredited to Paraguay. Lopez has placed himself
entirely beyond the pale of civilized nations; and least of all can
the United States have intercourse with him, except through the
naval and military power of our country. To me your duty appears
very simple; and I will proceed to give you my view of it, holding
myself responsible to our common superior for so doing.
I think you should at once address an official note to Admiral Davis,
stating who you are, and requiring from him the employment of the
naval force under his command in rescuing the members of the United
States legation, forcibly seized in violation of every principle of
international law and the comity of nations. And you should
particularly press upon him the gravity of the emergency, and strive
to enlighten him in regard to his duty in the premises; in order
that our country may, as far as practicable, be relieved from the
odium of being careless in affording protection to our legations
throughout the world, and unmindful of our national honor. * * *
Do all in your power to induce him to take all his squadron, except
the Guerriere, up the Paraguay, and from the deck of his flag-ship
send a flag of truce into the country, demanding, without parley,
the immediate surrender of Bliss and Masterman.
* * * * * * *
He (Lopez) has virtually declared war upon the United States, and
neither you nor I have a right to make peace, or to decide what the
offended dignity of our country demands. If he is no longer in
authority, then you have nothing to do with him; while, if he is,
then it is for our government to deal with him, and you and I have
nothing to do but await its action. If, in the mean time, the allies
should set up a government of their own in Paraguay, as by treaty
they are pledged to do, most assuredly you can have nothing to do
with that affair; and if recognized at all, it must be by our own
government, and not by you or me; and you will do well to enlighten
the admiral in regard to his duties in such a contingency, which, in
all probability, is certain to occur.
Under all the circumstances of the case, then it is manifest that it
is your duty to remain quietly at Buenos Ayres or Montevideo until
you can receive further instructions from Mr. Seward. All your
instructions, and all your messages from the President to Lopez, are
cancelled by the latter’s act of war against the United States. This
letter to you will constitute a part of my dispatch to the
Department of State, by the Mississippi, on the 26th, and, beyond
all peradventure, you will be in possession of fresh instructions on
or before the 1st of January next; which will be less than two
months after your arrival at the river. They will come by the return
steamer, or if not then by telegraph to our legation in London, and
hence to the river by any one of the seven lines of steamers now
sailing monthly from Europe to the La Plata, touching at Rio. My
only apprehension is that if Bliss and Masterman are still alive
they will have been rescued by some of the vessels of war belonging
to other nationalities now[Page 683]in the Paraguay. That such is their intention, I know, and such
intentions are not concealed in the general indignation of the
public at the non-action of our squadron on this station. God grant
that we may be spared that blow.
In my opinion, your course is a very simple one. You have no duties
to discharge in connection with Paraguay. Lopez, by an act of war
against the United States, has cancelled alike your duties and your
instructions, and nothing remains for you to do but to consult the
honor and dignity of your country by remaining here, or in the La
Plata, until you can hear from Washington. You say it is very
desirable you should meet Mr. Washburn. I think it is. He will
arrive here on the 4th November, and your presence at the river is
not immediately necessary.
I inclose you a copy of Mr. Washburn’s official letter to the British
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Argentine,
and through him to the other legations in Buenos Ayres. It is a
duplicate of the one sent to me by Mr. Washburn, and which I sent to
Admiral Davis, indorsing its authenticity, and I furnish it to you
under like circumstances.
* * * * * * *
I am, my dear general, very sincerely, your colleague and obedient
servant,
His Excellency General Martin T.
McMahon, United States Minister
Resident to Paraguay.
B.
[Extract.]
Mr. McMahon to General Webb.
Rio de Janeiro,
October 27, 1868.
My Dear Sir: The communication of the 23d
instant, which you did me the honor to address to me, reached me
last night through the courtesy of Mr. Monroe. After reciting some
portions of a conversation held at your residence on the 22d
instant, your excellency proceeds to advise me fully and earnestly
as to the course proper to be taken by me in anticipation of
instructions from Washington in regard to the late unfortunate
occurrence at Asuncion.
I trust it is needless to inform you that the counsel of a colleague
so distinguished for all the qualities that tend to give value to
advice will receive such attentive and respectful consideration as
your excellency’s high character and great experience deserve for
it.
Referring to the interview held at your house on the 22d instant, I
ask leave to remind you that the purpose of my visit on that
occasion was to lay before you, by the direction of the Secretary of
State, his letter of instructions to me, which contained the
following paragraph, to which I specially called your attention:
“You will, however, stop at Rio long enough to communicate with Mr.
Webb, and also at Montevideo and Buenos Ayres, to communicate with
the consulate and legation at those places, and to ascertain whether
the military obstacles to your passage up the river, which were
heretofore apprehended, have been removed.”
You were good enough to assure me promptly that you knew no obstacles
would be opposed by the government of Brazil to my passage up the
river, and also, at my request, you promised to send me an official
communication on the following day containing this assurance.
In the communication I have had the honor to receive from you no
mention is made of this subject. Believing that it may have escaped
your attention, I take the liberty of referring to it for the
purpose of asking if it is your excellency’s wish that I should rely
on the verbal assurance given in the interview of the 22d instant,
which will, of course, be sufficient if you should for any reason
deem it unadvisable to make it the subject of an official note.
On the occasion already twice referred to, I informed your excellency
that Rear-Admiral Davis had notified me that he held himself in
readiness to proceed with his squadron to the La Plata, and thence
with the lighter vessels of the fleet up the river, and that he
invited me to accompany him on the flag-ship for purposes of mutual
consultation. I informed the admiral then that I must delay for the
purpose of obtaining from you the assurance in relation to the
action of the government of Brazil to which I have referred, and
subsequently that I was desirous of meeting Hon. Mr. Washburn, my
predecessor, who your excellency informed me was daily expected to
arrive from Buenos Ayres. Mr. Washburn, it appears, did not arrive
on the packet of last week, and I now indulge the hope of meeting
him in Buencs Ayres. I mention these things for the purpose of
adding that the flag-ship will sail to-morrow for the river, and the
other vessels of the fleet to-day, and that it is my intention to
accompany the [Page 684] admiral. If,
therefore, your excellency has not decided that it is unnecessary to
communicate to me in an official note the assurance in regard to
military obstacles to my passage up the river, may I ask that, if it
suits your convenience, you will do me the favor to send it before
the departure of the Guerriere. If I do not receive it I will infer
that in your excellency’s opinion the verbal assurance already
received is all that is required to fulfill the instructions
contained in the extract I have made from the letter of the
Secretary of State.
Your excellency will perceive that the little time allowed me before
sailing for the river will prevent my referring to the several
points of interest and importance contained in your letter of the
23d instant, further than to thank you sincerely for the kind
interest you manifest in a subject not free from difficulty, and in
regard to which I trust that my official action may be such as to
meet the approval of the government at Washington, and at the same
time give no ground for the belief that the kind offices of our
distinguished representative in Brazil have not been appreciated at
their full value.
In conclusion, permit me to refer to one other point. From your
letter of the 23d instant, to which I am replying, I learn that I
created the impression on your mind in the interview of the 22d
instant, that notwithstanding recent deplorable events in Paraguay,
it was my intention and desire to reopen diplomatic relations with
the government of President Lopez. In conveying this impression
unintentionally, I had the misfortune to fail to make myself
correctly understood. In calling attention to the subject now, I beg
of your excellency to believe it is solely because of my anxiety to
secure, as far as may be possible, the approval of your excellency’s
judgment.
* * * * * * * * *
Your colleague and obedient servant,
M. T. McMAHON, Minister Resident of the United States at
Paraguay.
His Excellency General James Watson
Webb, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary near the Court of Brazil.
