The New York herald., 1870-05-23
TIE PARAGUAY DIPLOMATIC DuvicuLrY.

/
| To The EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
In your edition OF May IA you published what
purported to be extracts the report OF the Comp
mittee ON Foreign Anairs TO whom was referred the
me mortal OF Porter G. Bliss and George +. Master
man. In relation to their Imprisonment In Paraguay
by the President OF that republic, and their subse-
quent confinement by United States oncers on board
the gunboat Wasp and the nagship Guerrero. Of the
South Atlantic squadron. The evident intent Of
these extracts is to whtewash the entire inveetga-
tioD ana to call the attention the public to little
side Issue which happened some two or three years
before the question Of Masterman and Bliss ever
came up or the improper conduct OF Minister Wash.
burn, in taking those men under his charge and
then desertng them after he got into his muddle
| with Lopez, was made subject Of inquiry.
| The object OF the appointment OF the commits ee
] was to investigate Mr. Washburn's conduct as Min
lister in Paraguay but the majority Of the committee
seem to have ignored that point and to be playing
about some fancled wrong done the Minister because
the Admiral OF the squadron did not at once send
him to Paraguay by breaking q blockade OF the
allies and involving the country In troublesome and
dinicpt questions. Mr. Washburn left his post under
leave OF absence applied for just about the time
tnat the war Was breaking out, and II was under
stood that he was going sort OF agent OF Lopez
10 Guy arms for the war. He left as the extract
staes, In January, and remained TIL October, full
nine months absent from his post and for which he
70 Rio and found, not as the report SAYS, five
or SIX vessels. the names OF which are given,
Of the other vessels OF the squadron having YET
reached tue station. Mr.. WashDurn brought no
orders to be taken up 10 Paraguay on nan.o-war.
lie came Ont IN small steamer TO RIO and the Eng
iisn mail steamer for Buen0s Ayres left lew days
| after his arrival. Had he gone az that time lie
would nave reached MS posi- before the blockade
was established; but he chose rather TO delay his
departure for that place for weeks living at Rio
| Ia the meantime with a friend. Shortly after his
| ARRIVAL at Bnenos Ayres the allies occupied Cor.
rienies, port belonging to the Argentine govern
tn 70 moment ihe Paraguayans were driven back TO
ther own country the allies moved up their armies,
| and with large force DlocKaded the river above
] that point. Even fhen MI. Washbura could have
gone 10 Corrlentcs at any time ana from there the
Brazans offered TO convey him through their block
| Paraguay This he declined He had 0,her views,
and he preferred ID wat the arrival OF the Admiral.
Mr. WashbGrn could see no Improperly IN remain
ing away from his post nine or ten months ut time
when ever, NJ ms er was wanted there mot to pro-
there butt for the exercise friendly Offices and offers
which might have avaied In the begnningof the seri-
GUS troubles but which would have little effect after
! armies had met and vast expenses had been fn-
Cured fitting out expeditions. Mr. Washburn
never could have urged American interest, IN the
shape OF citizens or property being the reason
for his desiring to return TO PARAGUAY because he
knew there none; but he did, IL seems, urge upon
| tue American Admiral, as good reason for his
being sent up In a man-o,.war the advantage which
such vessel would be, and the good opportunity 1t
might afford Lopez TO leave the country under the
protection OF the American flag II he desired.
For these facts refer you 10 the correspondence
OF the Admiral with the secretary of the Navy pub
are before the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The
letter Is dated October a. 1885, and the passage Is as
that we had no interest IN Paraguay, and learning
from Mr.. Washbu1i that he consid red 1t Oad be
great q OBJECT to have vessel Of the navy at Asan,
pressed him too hard, not only changed my mind
Ia regard 10 sending MIN TO that place. bus the propO
sion caused in Inc want OF confidence in his jndg-
ment and pru lence."
When, some time after, under conditional instruc.
tions from the Navy Department. Mr.. Washburn was
sent up in man -of.war by the Admiral, he gave the
following orders 10 the commanding officer of that
veS;ilio vessel copy also from the correspondence
mltee:-"You will, under no circumstances give
t. Lopez or any paraguayana passage IN your yes
pained OF these orders for I'll the same public docu
ment letter from MIR. Seward Secretary OF State,
to M. Wasnburn, Of December Is, 1866 contains the
foiowing:-"Ine President sanctions the direction
which was given by Admiral Gcdon to Commander
crosby. OF the shamokin, not TO convey or take on
board any Paraguayan on MS voyage to or from
Asun ION This government owes it to the beiliger
ents, as wei as to its own dignity, to abstain from
every thing which cyuld be could even appear TO
be, departure from neutrality in the unhappy con-
test winch is going on between Paraguay aud her
your proceedings rigidiy to the principles OF
Interference" When Mr. Washburn arrived IN Rio
aud during the doubt as to sending him in q manof-
war TO break the b.ocaade General Webb Was not
IN Rio.
Any one who knows General Webb can hardly read
his letter published in the report without broad
laugh at his wit and dry humor when he says That
ne reraned from expressing eI any opinion on the
miraI. lie was absent from his post at that time,
on ayelr's leave, receiving his Iul salary, doubt
less while away. He would have been too happy to
have med ilel IN and muddied the matter in his
amiable way, but he was rather too busy then, in
settling for Mr.. Seward the great Mexican diiculty
for tue solution OF which the latter gentleman has to
all ne says at Its exact worth.
Before closing this article already sufficiently long,
permit me to quote two letters nom the published
correspondence referred TO, and also before the CON-
NAVY prrAnrMrsr wAsnrxerey, Feb; |, 1857.
raj enclosures. has been received
14 hsVSssA s GSas Mr.
irving u respects approved throughout and
naye neen eIedi.able 70 ypn ana lhe service A.,
ad
letter yh!s6
Rear Admiral s. ", GoDoN, Commanding South Atlantic
Squadron Rio de Janeiro
Ihays The honor TO acknowledge the RECEIPT ycr letter
Ct ns Rear
ma @mandng the South M AGR sanadrNn the subject Of
the the States snamoEn
views IN to the 81 Rear Adra Godon OF hs
occasion referred TO- have the honor to state that after
70 me that he Executed the peculiarly delicate duty
wsh s % Ins
to be, sir, your obedient servant.
WILLIAM Ii. SEWARD.
Hon. GIDEON wELLEs, Secretary of the Navy.
Here. then, concludes the entire affair, so far as
Admiral Godon was concerned in the Paraguayan
question.
He, it would seem had nothing to do with the
matter under Investigation.
He seems TO lave anticipated all the muddle that
would and did take place. and did all he could an
Intelligent and far-seeiug man to keep himself and
the country out Of 1t.
But other interests than national ones were con-
cerned and now the investigating committee turn
it against him rather than manIully look the true
points In the face.
Did Minister Washburn engage In conspiracy in
Paraguay Did he treat Bliss ana Masterman pro.
perry, first G.cimint item to be Of his Legation and
then laseTtng and leaving them 10 the tender mer.