Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-18
"DEPARTMENT OF STATE

tarY Blelne TO L. ii. morgan, Minister OF the
| United States at Mexico, relative to the pro-
posed congress Of North and South Ameri-
can States:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
"WAsHINGToN. November 30, 1881 I
'Fh1ip II Morgan, Esq etc, etc etc, City
OF MtxcO:
'SIR-The attitude of the United States
with respect to the question of general peace
on the American continent is well known
| through its persistent efforts for years past
to avert the evils of warfare, or, these efforts
falling, to bring positive conflicts to an
end through patriotic counsels or the advO-
cacv of impartial arbitration. This attitude
has been consistently maintained, and always
with such firmness as to leave no room for
imputing to our government any motive
except the humane and disinterested one of
saving the kindred States of the American
continent from the burdens of war. The
position of the United States as the leading
power of the New World might well give
to its government q claim to authorits-
tive utterauces for the purpose Of quiet
ing discord among It's neighbors, with all
OF whom the most friendly relations
exist. Nevertheless, the good Offices OF
this government are not and have not at any
time been rendered with a show of dicta-
tion or compulsion, but only as exhibiting
the solicitous good will of s common friend.
For some years past q growing disposition
Central and South America to refer dis
| putes affecting grave questions of interna-
| tional relationship and boundaries to arbi-
| tration rather than to the sword. 1t has
| been on several such occasions a source of
| profound satisfaction to the government of
| the United States to see that this country is
| in large measure looked to by all The
American powers as their friend and media
| tor. The just and important counsel of the
| President in such cases has never been with
| held, and his efforts have been rewarded by
| the prevention of sangulnary strife or angry
| contention between the peoples whom we
/ regard as brethren.
| ''The existence Of this growing tendency
| convinces the President that the time is ripe
| for a proposal that shall enlist the good
| will and active cooperation of all the States
| OF the Western Hemisphere, both North and
| South. in the interest of humanity and for
| the common veal of nations. He conceives
| that none Of the governments of America
| can be less alive than our own to the dan
gers and horrors of a state of war, aRd eS-
pecially of war between kinsmen. He is
sure that none Of the chiefs of governments
| on the continent can be less sensitive than
| he is to the sacred duty of making eVery
endeaVor to do away with the chances of
| fra'Ticidal strife. And he looks with hope
| full confidence to such active assistance from
| them as will serve to show the broadness of
| the ties which bind us all altogether as a
| great and harmonious system of American
| cOmmOnWealths.
compressed by these views, the President
| extends to all the Independent countries of
North and South America an earnest invita-
! tion to participate In general congress, to
be held in the city of Washington on the
24.h day of November, 1882, for the purpose
of considering and discussing the methods
of preventing war between the nations of
America. He desires that the attention Of
the congress shall be strictly confined to
this one great object that its cole aim shall
be to seek way of permanently averting
the horrors Of cruel and bloody combat be-
tween countries Oftenest of one blood and
speech, or the even worse calamity
Of internal commotion and civil strife; that |
1t shall regard the burdenscme and far
reaching consequences of such struggles, |
the legacies OF exhausted finances, of op- |
pressive debt of onerous taxation, of ruined |
cities, of paralyzed industries, of devastated |
fields, of ruthless conscriptione, of the |
slaughter of men, of the grief of the widow |
aud the orphan, of embittered resentments |
that long survive those who provoked them |
and heavily sffiiet the innocent generations |
that come after. The President is espe- |
cially desirous to have 1t understood that |
in putting forth this invitation, the United |
States does not assume the position of |
counseling or attempting through the voice |
OF the congress to counsel, any deter |
mined solution of existing questions which |
may now divide any of the countries of !
America. Such questions cannot proserIy |
come before the congress. Its mission is 1
higher. 1t is to provide for the interests of /
all in the future, not to settle the individual |
differences Of the present. For this reason |
especially the President has indicated dav |
for the assembling of the congress SO far in |
the future as to leave good ground for hone |
that by the time named the present situa- |
tion On the South Pacific coast Will be hap |
PLY terminated, and that those engaged in |
the contest may take peaceable part in the |
discussion and solution of the general cues |
tion affecting In an equal degree the well !
being of all.
'It seems also desirable to disclaim In ad-
vance any purpose on the part OF the United |
states TO prejudice the issues to be present.
ed TO the congress.
1T is far from the intent Of thio govern
menS 20 appear before the congress as in
any sense the protector of its neighbors or
tne predestlned anG necessary arbitrator of |
their disputes.
"The United States will enter into the de. |
liberations Of the congress on the same
footing as the other powers represented and
the loyal determination to approach any
proposed solution not merely in It's own in |
terest or with view to asserting its power.
but as single member among many CO. |
ordinate and co-equal States. 80 far as the |
influence OF this government may be poten- |
tials It Will be exerted In conciliating what |
ever conflicting interests Of blood, or gov |
ernment, or historical tradition may neces- |
sar1ly come together in response to call |
embractng such vast and diverse elements. |
You will present these views to the Minister |
OF Foreign Relations Of the Argentine Re- |
public, enla, ging, IL need be, In such terms |
as will readily occur to you upon the great |
mission which 1t is In the power OF the pro-
posed congress to accomplish In the /
interest Of humanity, and upon the firm
purpose Of the United States to maintain a
position OF the most absolute and impartial
friendship towards all. You will thereupon, |
In the name Of the President of the United
States, tender 10 his Excellency the Presi.
dent of the Argentine Republic formal in-
vitation to send two commissioners to the
congress, provided with such powers and
instructions on behalf Of their government
as will enable them to consider the ques-
tioDs brought before that body within the
limit of submission contemplated by this
invitation. The United States as well as
the other powers will In like manner be rep
resented by two commissioners, so that |
equality and impartialitY will be amply Sc
cured in the proceedings of the congress. |
In delivering the invitation through the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, you will read
this dispatch to him aud leave with him a
copy intimating that an answer Is desired by
this government as promptly as the just
consideration of SO important a proposition
Will permit am, sir, your obedient ser
want, JAMES g. BLAINE"
Accompanying this communicate
the letter Of Mr. G. A. Log Amsr,"tp
Minister to the Central american States. IN
SnsWef 10 Mr' FSsalne's dispatch of a similar
nature e tne above, in which, after pointing
Gus tue obstacles to be met In bringing the
WarriDg States of Central America into a
friendly congress, he says:
The situation, as 1t appears to me, is a
difficult one. AS a means of restraining the
aggressive tendency OF Mexico in the direc.
tion OF Central America, the congress would
be attended by the happiest results should
full agreement be reached. But, as the
Central American States are now In a
chaotic condition, politically considered,
with their future status wholly unfixed, and
as final settlement can only be reached, as It
now appears through the operation OF mill
tsry forces, the hope OF federal union 10
Central America would be crushed, at least
In the immediate present.
The answer Of Minister Morgan to Mr..
Blaine, un der date of January 4. is also
transmitted, in which he includes COPIES of
his correspondence relative to the proposed |
congress with Senor Marescal, from whom |
at the date OF writing he had received no
definite reply.
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