I learned from him that it was the intention of the national authorities. not to bombard the city if Arias should be defeated, but to inclose and reduce it to submission. I have given notice to our citizens and they are making all provisions possible to stand a siege. The governor has declared this a free port for all necessary articles of consumption. As the post-office is closed and we have no regular mail service, I have made arrangements to send my mail, as long as possible, to the French mail steamers. I have, &c., No. 20. THOS. O. OSBORN. No. 287.] Mr. Osborn to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Buenos Ayres, June 22, 1880. (Received July 31.) SIR: A bloody battle took place yesterday a few miles southwest of the city, in which it appears the national forces were victorious, as the provincial forces fell back upon the city and caused a great panic among the inhabitants. General Arias, after his battle with General Racedo, on the 17th instant, fell back within three miles of the city, when he was re-enforced by the provincial troops of the city. On Sunday, the 20th instant, a body of national troops attacked the south part of the city and a very sharp engagement took place, in which some 20 on the part of the provincial troops were killed and wounded. This engagement was the result of mistaken orders. General Levalle, with the force from the southern frontier, arrived. Supposing the city surrounded by the national forces, he advanced in this direction on the city. Having surprised the city forces, as well as finding himself surprised, he fell back and joined the national forces sent to meet him at Lanús. On Monday, with the additional force, he attacked General Arias, and, after fighting the whole day, drove him back into and surrounded the city. The losses, as reported, on both sides amounted, in killed and wounded, to about 1,000. The general feeling is, even in the city, that the provincial forces have been worsted, and that the national forces have the advantage and are probably the masters of the situation and, in all probability, will soon force a peace, as the city cannot stand a siege for any great length of time. I have, &c., THOS. O. OSBORN. No. 288.] No. 21. Mr. Osborn to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Buenos Ayres, July 6, 1880. (Received August 5.) SIR: I have just sent you a telegram saying, "Peace. General government supreme." And, more in detail, I have now the honor to inform you that hostili ties between the national government and the provincial authorities of Buenos Ayres have absolutely ceased. Governor Tejedor has resigned as governor, and the legislature has accepted his resignation. The lieutenant governor is acting governor, and accepts the situation. This port was opened this morning. The provincial troops are being disarmed, the barricade removed, and the streets repaired. On the 22d of June, after it was found that the battle of the 21st, referred to in my No. 287, was much more decisive than at first supposed, that the provincial forces had been badly defeated and driven into the city, and that the city had been absolutely inclosed by the national forces, a committee called on me and presented a petition, signed by a large portion of the commercial community, asking me to mediate between the contending parties in behalf of the lives and property of the citizens of all nationalities. After giving the petition due consideration, and knowing that while it would not be offensive to the national government it might afford the provincial authorities a way out of their desperate situation, I addressed a note, a copy of which I have the honor to inclose herewith, marked A, to the minister of foreign affairs, and at the same time I addressed the same note unofficially to the government of the province, tendering my good offices, copies of the reply of the minister and governor to which I have the honor to inclose herewith, marked B and C. After the battle of the 21st, General Mitré was appointed by Governor Tejedor commander-in-chief for the defense of Buenos Ayres. On the 24th, Mitré proceeded to Belgrano with a letter from Tejedor to the president, offering to surrender, and asking for terms. The president refused to see General Mitré, but his minister of interior received him and replied that the national authorities demanded that Governor Tejedor should resign as governor; that the provincial forces should be disarmed and the arms deposited in the national arsenal, and absolute submission on the part of the provincial authorities to the general 'government under the constitution, and all questions relating to the presidential election to be submitted to Congress. These terms were finally accepted and are now being carried out. THOS. O. OSBORN. [Inclosure A with No. 288.] Mr. Osborn to Don B. Zorrilla. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The undersigned, minister of the United States, has the honor of addressing your excellency, with no spirit to interfere with the domestic affairs of the country, but with the object simply of tendering his good offices in the present conflict between the provincial authorities of Buenos Ayres and the national government. In so doing he is prompted not only by the sentiments of humanity inherent in all, quickened not only by the blood already spilt, by the traditions of his country's policy, and by a conviction that a further sacrifice of life and property may be avoided by an arrangement honorable to both parties, but also by a direct appeal in writing to him by a large and an influential part of the commercial community of all nationalities. Your excellency is earnestly desired to give such attention to these communications as its object, in your estimation, warrants. Its prompt consideration may probably avert further bloodshed-bloodshed of Argentine citizens by Argentine citizens-and re-establish the harmony of the powers of the nation on a constitutional basis. At such a moment as your excellency may consider proper and designate, and with the consent of both conflicting parties, to whom the present note is simultaneously proffered, he shall have the greatest satisfaction in making effective this offer of friendly mediation. The undersigned has the honor to remain, &c., &c., &c., His Excellency Dr. Don B. ZORRILLA, THOS, O. OSBORN. Minister of the Interior and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, [Inclosure B.] Señor Zorrilla to Mr. Osborn. [Translation. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE, MR. MINISTER: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your excellency's note under date of 22d instant, by which you are kind enough to tender your good offices in the present conflict between the government of the nation and the authorities of this province. It is very agreeable to me to communicate to your excellency that the national government, giving due weight to the kindly sentiments of your excellency, will always bear in mind your agreeable offers, and will accept, whenever opportunity offers, your friendly mediation. At the same time that I thank your excellency in the name of the President of the republic for your spontaneous offer and the interest you manifest in behalf of the peace of these countries, I have the satisfaction of reiterating to you the expressions of my extreme and distinguished consideration. His Excellency General THOS. O. OSBORN, Minister of the United States. B. ZORRILLA. [Inclosure C.] Governor Tejedor to Mr. Osborn. [Translation.] GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE, MR. MINISTER: I believe with you that further bloodshed can be avoided by an honorable arrangement. Therefore, I accept, on my part, the friendly mediation to which you refer in your note of yesterday--22d. Late yesterday Mr. Mattera, senior member of the diplomatic corps, accompanied by the minister of the German Empire, approached me with the same intent, and I replied to them in identical terms. They even went further. They proposed a suspension of hostilities and the nomination of commissioners, one on each part, with the character of arbiters, which I also accepted. Whatever the result may be, I shall always thank you for the sentiments which have impelled you to address me the note under reference, and I subscribe myself, with every consideration, Your excellency's, &c., No. 22. Mr. Hay to Mr. Osborn. CARLOS TEJEDOR. No. 131.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 288, in which you communicate details of the cessation of hostilities between the gov ernment of the Argentine Republic and the province of Buenos Ayres. In reply, I have to request that you will express to the Argentine minister of foreign affairs the extreme gratification of the Government of the United States at the receipt of this intelligence. It had not been doubted by this government that the administration and the people of the republic and the authorities of the province would shortly reach the termination of those misunderstandings which had brought about a situation of affairs in the territories of the republic so much to be deprecated, not only by its own citizens, but by the people of all other countries interested in the prosperity of the Argentine Government. From this result of the internal dissensions which have threatened the stability of our sister republic, the President is glad to conclude that the principle of national life, as opposed to the spirit of disintegration, will continue to animate its people; and he desires that you will convey his sincere congratulations upon the fortunate issue of the late contentions to the President of the Argentine Republic, through the proper channel. I am, &c., No. 381.] Mr. Baker to Mr. Hunter. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, Buenos Ayres, July 15, 1880. (Received August 28.) SIR: Since my dispatch No. 378, of the date of the 6th instant, announcing the end of the rebellion, there has been a steady progress towards the establishment of a better public feeling. The national gov ernment, however, seems determined to accept no half-way surrender, but to fix the settlement upon a basis which will prevent future complications on the part of the province of Buenos Ayres. To this end martial law (estado de sitio) throughout the province has been declared until the 30th of October, a period subsequent to that on which the Presidentelect is to be inaugurated. The new governor of the province appears to be laboring in good faith in the interests of conciliation, and his movements are in accord with the views of the national government. But much surprise has been expressed by the public press of this city on discovering that, after all, no conditions were conceded to the revolutionists upon laying down their arms, except that they would not be prosecuted in the criminal courts or by court martial for their treason. The names of all officers, however, in the civil or military service, who took part in the rebellion, have by the President's decree been dropped from the rolls. The present political situation can be better judged from the message of the President to the national senate in response to its interpellation, a copy of which I inclose as it appears translated in the Buenos Ayres Standard. The great stumbling-block in the way of a return to a normal condition of affairs is the anomalous attitude of the national Congress. Upon the commencement of hostilities, in response to the decree of the President, the senate and a minority of the chambers (the majority acting in the interests of the rebellion) retired to Belgrano to hold their sessions. The majority continued to meet in this city. Thereupon the minority voted that all such members were aiding and abetting the resistance to the general government, and, declaring that by their action they had abandoned their seats, they have now proceeded to call new elections to fill the vacancies. Against this the majority have issued a public protest, and propose, as I understand, to test the matter in the courts. But as each house is judge of the elections of its own members, I presume they can make no case there. Until, however, there shall be a quorum in the chambers, the Congress is powerless to accomplish any legislation which the political situation requires. Among other pending schemes, is one to permanently remove the national capital from Buenos Ayres or to federalize that city, i. e., place it under the exclusive control of the general government as Washington City is. This move has created considerable public feeling among the people of Buenos Ayres. As a consequence of the disturbed condition of the country, there is yet no revival of business, and probably there will be none until there is greater confidence in the peace settlement. There is no doubt, however, that the national government is master of the situation. I have, &c., [Inclosure 1 in No. 381.1 E. L. BAKER, Consul. From the Buenos Ayres Standard. THE INTERPELLATION. The following questions were last week put to the national Executive, and the answers to these questions we now give-a most important state paper: 1. What are the bases of the arrangement for the surrender of Buenos Ayres, and whether the Executive considers them satisfactory to the dignity and laws of the nation? 2. If the ignoring of the act of the chamber of deputies, declaring the absent members unseated, is part of the arrangement; and if this resolve has been communicated to the governors of provinces, in order to fill up the national representation in Congress? 3. If it is part of the arrangement that the rebellious authorities of the province of Buenos Ayres remain in power, and in what light the Executive regards that legislature and its present composition? 4. What steps have been taken for the judicial suppression of the crime of rebellion ? 5. Why have the prisoners captured been released, and is it intended to let them go unpunished? 6. What is the position of the superior officers who have fired on the national flag, and ave they been arraigned before a court-martial ? 7. If the rebels will hand over their arms to the national government, and whether the disarming of the army is a part of the arrangement ? 8. What guarantee has the Executive for the preservation of peace in the future, so that war may not break out again, and necessitate fresh sacrifices? 9. How long does the Executive intend to remain in Belgrano with the national authorities? 10. Should the national authorities return to Buenos Ayres, what security will they have, what jurisdiction will they exercise there, and what will be the bases of the relations between the national and provincial authorities, until a definite law, establishing the capital of the republic, be passed ? ANSWER OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. BELGRANO, July 10, 1880. To the honorable Senate of the Nation: The Executive hastens to answer the questions put, awaiting further opportunities to dwell further on them. Answer to the first question. There is nothing reserved. No other notes have been |