The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-04
THE PARAGUAYAN WAR.
The Medlat0ry Efforts Of the United
States.
Paraguayan Statement Of the Cause and OBJ
jects Of the War.
AN AO R,r

The following reply Of The Paraguayan government Il
the propositions OF the American government presented
by our Minister Hon. Charles A. Washburn, having fol
object mediation in the going between Para
quay on the side and Brazil with the Argentine
and Oriental republics the other has just been
Ceived in this city as. 48
Asuxc1oS March a. 1867
To his Excellency CHARLES A. WAsnBuRs Minister Resi-.
dent of the United States in Asuncion- -rf
\. LIZ MnTrRE-The undersigned Minister Secretary
Of state in the Department of Foreign Relations has had
Che honor TO lay before the elevated notice OF the
excellent Marshal President OF the republic the note
address 10 me, dated Goth inst, communicative
70 me that the Brazilian government and its
hs rens sa,e reject the meaaon when apa n
collency has offered by order OF the most excellent
crnment OF the United States, with the praseworthy
purpose OF putting an end to the present struggle by
means Of treaty OF peace, which may the honor
and the rights Of the belgerents engaged in it.
The most excellent the Marshal President Of the
public has ordered me to thank more the enght-
ened Cabinet Of Washington, through your Excelency,
for the interest il has manifested In contributing 10 the
cessation OF the fatal effects caused this continent by
the bloody struggle which the republic is sustaining
and whose prolongation not only affects valuable
neutral interests but is also preudal to the principles
that constitute the political existence Of these nationa
Ties which reposes upon respect to international rights
policy Of the Cabinet Of San trisobal. He, moreover
thanks your Exceency for the energetic argumen
by which you have rejected the preliminary condition
that the Marshal President OF the republic should abd
cate and leave the country before considering ques
ton OF mediation. ~
The safety Of principles recognized as ndispen
sable to the stability and progress Of the waered
by the River Plate has brought the beneficial influence
Of tho Cabinets OF London and Paris 10 record in
solemn treaties the autonomy OF the Oriental State of
Uruguay when endangered both by the views OF
absorption meditaed and attempted by means Of arms
by the neighborng empire Of Brazil. and by Abe un-
justiHable Invasion by the Argentine government who
made also attack against its political existence II
organized By Brazil and the Argentine Rep1bc whnh
called the att ntion of England and France and there
BY obliged those States to respect the independence OF
the Oriental Republic, and record in solemn treaties
declaration TO this effect 1t was just to believe that the
pretensons of this republics neighbors against
its sovereignty would have disappeared. H
II is, however, deplorable to confess that notvith
standing the guarantee or mighty powers the Brazilian
government has not desised from lis ancient preten
sions to restore TO its own dominions the els Patne
province, withdrawn by force and constituted in o
sovereign State in consequence Of the urgent necessity
OF establishing solid guarantee for the pace and pro
gress Of that State and its neghbors by FRUSTRATING he
constant aim Of Brazil TO make it province OF the en-
pi and the pretensop equally unreasonable, Of the
q asso! Iyg While M a.; an
principle Of autonomy In the River PatefSate lwas re-
spccted peace was never seriously anetd although the
est less well UNDERSTOOD OF the political mar
ties into which they divided The republic Of Para
quay has been free from this scourso since ls
Years elapsed and Il seemed that the Oriental indie
pendence would NO longer be the Of international
wars which could convulse the River Plate. But this
Watering hope was vain since, when least expected the
Brazilian government strong In its power threw itself
Upon ahe Oriental government az time when it was
struggling with civil war, the long prolongation Of
which had exhausted its and debiltated all
the elements At its disposal whereby combat with the
probability OF success an International war as unused
as il was unexpected. nrx T 49,
Peremptory demands were made,to the Oriental gov.
ornment by the Brazilian plenipoentiary, backed BY
squadron In this Plate waters and by power.
fui army the frontiers ready fail upon that un-
happy country, cruelty torn asunder by long civil war;
10 which everything leads TO believe that Brazilian
policy not foreign.
Under such painful circumstances my government
deemed It is duty to address Itself 10 the Cabinet Of san
Crstobal, Offering its mediation to make manifest In
friendly manner the fatal consequences OF its threaten
ing policy persevered in and Il the intention open
iug bostties by and land against the struggling ORR
eua government and its extenuated country should be
carried effect Ny government did more u asserted
that II the imperial government persisted in the occupa
ton OF the Oriental State by land forces II would con-
suier this fact as cas beiii and would consider il its
unavoidable duty to look upon il as the beginning Of
The imperial government not only disregarded the
just considerations submitted TO It's wisdom and judy
ment by nv government, II went further IL viewed
with contempt the friendly interest OF the latter, and
LOT loose upon the Oriental soil whose autonomy had
guaranteed by public treaties jointly with the
argentine republic, a strong division Of the army,
whereby the rebellion against the legal govern
ment was encouraged, while the squadron bonn
barded with IMMUNITY the defenceless ports OF the
oriental republic stained with Oriental blood its album
dan rivers REDEEMED its fields, and reduced It's flourish
right the only safeguard Of weak peoples against the
despotism and violence Of the strong, were painfully
trampled upon by the dsoya and ungeherous policy q
the Cabinet OF San Crsoba wi hl total disregard OF
the usages sanctioned by civilized nations
q Paraguay has not ignored that The
Of sraS = me Be Ssrav
and IL they had been confined within the
limits prescribed by the right OF nations. IL
bringing about warko conflict certainly the republic
of Paraguay would not have raised its voice in this
- ss al an s ans
bnes Of diplomacy and facts pointed 10 an imminent
danger.
placed s violent pressure by force the part Of the
Brazilian government was IL Ia painful though neces.
sary TO confess. proceeding that showed little gen.
The events which have narrated, being thus defined
the situation OF my government was clear, snoe It's
and ts good dispositions ignored and dsdained nothing
was left 20 u 70 have 70 arms and TO them
rights jeopardzed bv the abusive policy OF govern
ment that not even seeking decorous pretexts TO
give an honest appearance TO It's menacing policy.
The OF the Brazilian arms assisted BY the
bellion, which had the same tendencies 90 Brazil.
could not be doubtful, and resulted In the
disappearance Of The legal government and the
creation Of another moro docle and condcscending
70 Brazilian exigencies. The rebellion, therefore,
abe representative OF the Colorado party, ascsnded
power, and Brazil postponed Its peremptory claims,
while dragged this MAGISTRATE imposed on the Oriental
people by force, into the which II preparing
against Paraguay. The rebellion convulscd the instu-
sious Of the country but it was not enough. Brasil
sought something mOre-tno liberal uemocrauC inSttu-
tons Of the Oriental republic did not deserve lie mpa
shy, and anxious Tor and obtained their destruc
ton For more than two years The constitutional guar
have been ignored in that country aud have been
substituted by dictatorship that lacks the essentially
Democratic condition OF being based upon the national
will but subssts by the will Of the Brazilian govern
ment and a set calling itself the Colorado party.
The Paraguayan government might have counter
checked the Brazilian government by supporting tho
BIanco party, which was 10 power, and the triumph
would have been doubtful but is political prnci-
pies IT. loyalty and morality, did not allow u 10 act In
This manner II kept up lie relations with the Oriental
government all other nations did because u was
legal government but never yielded 70 the preen-
sions OF that government become ts ally and enter
into subsequent treaties By which u would have been
lawful Paraguay to be exsctng Such means az well
all motive OK provocaon, are considered BY my gov
eminent In accordance with Its political princi
pes and were therefore declined.
The Paraguayau government N. 10 Ninstre, has not
consulted its convenience IN the Oriental question,
nor has intcrfcred therein for the purpose Of obtain
ing advantages or CONCESSIONS neither has u gone TO
support political party order TO exercise upon u an
Influence which might have produced immediate OF
future benefits been the practice Of the i'm
perial government
has protested against the imperial conduct and has