discussed by the press; and Dr. Elizalde, late minister of foreign affairs, comes out in a letter to the public supporting the statement in the message, that everything had been agreed upon and arranged for arbitration. It is probable that nothing will be definitely known until the President lays the matter before Congress for approval. The President made but little or no reference to the ministerial crisis (noted in my dispatch No. 184) in his message, which continued until some three days after the opening of Congress. At the date of my dispatch, numbered 184, it was reported and understood that the ministers appointed and assigned to their respective departments by the President in the reconstruction of his cabinet had accepted, but after the lapse of a few days it was found that the newly appointed ministers declined to accept, and that Drs. Irigoyen and Plaza had tendered their resignation. The resignation of Dr. Irigoyen was accepted, but the President declined to accept that of Dr. Plaza, minister of finance. On the 8th instant the President completed the reconstruction of his cabinet, and it is now composed of Drs. Laspur, minister of interior; Plaza, minister of finance; Lastra, minister of worship; General Roca, minister of war and marine; and M. A. de Montes de Oca, minister of foreign affairs. Washington, November 29, 1877. (Received Nov. 30.) Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: With real satisfaction I transmit to you copies of two dispatches which I have just received from the minister of foreign relations, with instructions to bring their contents to the knowledge of the President. The lofty and patriotic policy inaugurated by the present administration, supported by public opinion in that country, begins to produce the most beneficial results in the Argentine Republic, which feels it an honor, and has always done so, to imitate the examples furnished by the Great Republic to the democracy of America. My government hopes that the friendly relations which exist between the two countries will be daily more firmly consolidated, to produce which result the development of our mutual commercial interests contributes in an eminent degree. I take liberty to inclose, at the same time, a copy of the addresses delivered by the President of the republic on the occasion of the popular assemblage held at Buenos Ayres for the purpose of ratifying the conciliation of parties in the Argentine nation. I avail, &c., MANUEL R. GARCIA. [Inclosure 1.-Translation.] The minister of foreign relations to Mr. Garcia. BUENOS AYRES, October 15, 1877. Mr. MINISTER: The policy inaugurated by the President of the republic in the message which he addressed to Congress on opening the sessions of this year, and the acts performed by him, have been followed by a result which surpasses the hopes even of those who were most sanguine concerning this far-seeing attitude which he assumed with patriotic sentiments. Yesterday, on leaving the Temple at the conclusion of the solemn Te Deum, at which nearly the entire population of Buenos Ayres was present, the President found the republic in all the plenitude of its moral and material power, thus reaping the well-earned fruit of a policy which is destined to redound to the welfare of the country and of the nations with which we are on terms of friendship. For the first time since our emancipation, the republic has a national authority, which, controlling all its elements, can rely upon the support of all its inhabitants, both native and foreign. The republic needed this power in order to maintain its friendly relations with all nations on a footing of reciprocal justice and equity, and Divine Providence will inspire the President so to use this power as to draw closer its relations with friendly nations and to maintain them cordially. Your excellency will endeavor to make known these facts and statements to the government to which you are accredited, for the sake of the mutual benefits which they cannot fail to produce. God guard your excellency many years. To Dr. MANUEL R. GARCIA, RUFINO DE ELIZALDE. Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary of the Argentine Republic. [Inclosure 2.-Translation.] The minister of foreign affairs to Mr. Garcia. BUENOS AYRES, October 20, 1877. Mr. MINISTER: Internal order being secured by the aid of the whole people, it only remains to settle the Chilian question, which is the only one that disturbs the peace of the republic with other nations. I entertain the hope of continuing the negotiation which was left open and pending, and which was conducted by my predecessor with a zeal and tact that entitle him to the gratitude of the country. I entertain this hope, I say, because the Chilian minister is expected every moment from Rio de Janeiro, and I have satisfactory evidence that he has received orders from his government. I have prepared all the drafts for the conclusion of the necessary conventions according to the agreements made by the Argentine and Chilian ministers. These drafts have been approved by the government and by competent persons. There is every reason to hope that the new negotiations will be successful, provided Chili will agree to reasonable conditions. God guard your excellency many years. To Dr. MANUEL R. GARCIA, RUFINO DE ELIZALDE. Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary of the Argentine Republic. No. 12. Mr. Evarts to Mr. Garcia. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have had the honor to receive your note of the 29th ultimo. It is accompanied by a copy of two instructions which have recently been addressed to you by your government, which you say you have been directed to communicate to this. I thank you for the opportunity of reading them. They indeed indicate a high and patriotic policy, the good effects of which it is gratifying to learn from you had already become apparent. Such a policy does honor to the enlightened statesmen who now guide the destinies of the Argentine Republic, and cannot fail to develop the rich physical resources comprised within its limits, to preserve internal peace and strengthen friendly relations with all foreign powers, especially with the United States. I also thank you for the copy of the addresses of the President of that republic to which you advert. I avail, &c., No. 13. Mr. Garcia to Mr. Evarts. [Translation.] WM. M. EVARTS. ARGENTINE LEGATION, Washington, March 23, 1878. (Received March 23.) Monsieur le MINISTRE: Next Monday, March 25, I shall have the honor to present the memorial, documents, charts, and books, relating to the question of boundaries between the Argentine Republic and Paraguay, submitted to the arbitration of his Excellency the President of the United States. If it is considered necessary to designate a day to personally deliver said documents to his Excellency the President, I will thank you to inform me. Please accept, &c., No. 14. MANUEL R. GARCIA. Mr. Evarts to Mr. Garcia. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of this date, representing that on the 25th instant you intend to present the memorial documents, charts and books, relating to the question of boundaries between the Argentine Republic and Paraguay, submitted to the arbitration of the President of the United States. You also request that you may be informed if it should be considered_necessary personally to deliver those documents to the President. In reply I have to state that that course is not regarded as necessary on your part. I avail, &c., WM. M. EVARTS. No. 15. Mr. Garcia to Mr. Evarts. [Translation.] ARGENTINE LEGATION, Washington, March 25, 1878. (Received March 25.) Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: According to the stipulations of Article 8, of the treaty of limits between the Argentine Republic and that of Paraguay, I have the honor to present the memorandum and the documentary evidence of the sovereign rights of my government to the territory comprised between the Verde, Paraguay, and Pilcomayo Rivers. In this memorandum will be found a historical discussion of the section of the Chaco, situated south of this latter river, from its principal branch; this zone is no longer a subject of dispute, according to the aforesaid treaty of limits. Thus the territory which is submitted to the decision of the President embraces, to the north of the principal branch of the Pilcomayo, 25° 20' south latitude, according to the plan of Mouchez, as far as the Rio Verde, 23° 10' south latitude, including the Villa Occidental; this territorial area being bounded by the Paraguay River on the east. The task of the plenipotentiaries who are charged with the defense: of the respective claims of the two countries being confined to the simple presentation of memorandums, documents, plans and references, this one is limited to a refutation of the arguments advanced by Mr.. Miranda in behalf of Paraguay in the counter-memorandum of 1873, and by Mr. Falcon in 1871. I have considered a translation of all the documents unnecessary or superfluous, contenting myself with indicating the main points; others are sent in Spanish, especially those of reference, the translation of which I have not thought indispensable. I am ready, however, to give such explanations as may be deemed necessary, and to supply the complement of the proofs that may be required, as also to furnish any authentications or translations that may be designated. The memorandum consists of 155 folios, and the accompanying documents of 314. The maps which illustrate the memorandum are the following: No. 1, map of the Vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres, by Don Felix de Azara; No. 2, map of the Vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres, by Don Miguel de Lastarria; No. 3, map of Paraguay, by E. Mouchez, lieutenant in the French navy; No. 4, map of the Chaco, and of Paraguay, by Azara; No. 5, chorographic map of the Vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres,. by Lastarria; No. 6, extract from the map of South America, by Don Francisco Requena; No. 7, extract from the general map of South America, by Don Juan de la Cruz Cano y Olmedilla. Maps 2 and 5,. made by Lastarria, are exhibited only temporarily, a duly authenticated photographic copy having been ordered to take the place of those now sent. I also take the liberty of adding the following works, which are referred to in the text: "Limits between Paraguay and the Argentine Republie," by Messrs. Saravia and Trelles, 1 vol., 2d; "Posthumous Memoirs. of Don Felix de Azara on the agricultural condition of Rio de la Plata,” 1 vol., 3d; Memoirs (Report?) of the ministry of foreign relations of the Argentine Republic, 1874-1876, 2 vols., 4th; "Our Bolivian Frontier," by Juan M. Sequizaman, 1 vol., 5th; "Extract from the papers of Father Francisco Aman Gonzales," copied from the manuscript annexed to that of Don Miguel de Lastarria, entitled "Eastern Colonies of the multiplicity of foreign coins results in much damage to the commercial interests of the country. The act abolishing the old Spanish system of weights and measures and adopting the decimal system has become a law, and may be consid ered a step forward, and in harmony with the spirit of the age. The measure which may be considered of the greatest national importance passed by Congress is the measure which authorizes the Presi dent to accede to certain modifications in the concession granted Mr. Clark some years ago. This concession was granted Mr. Clark in 1873, and he entered into contract with this government to build a TransAndine Railway and open through communication between Valparaiso, Chili, and the River la Plate by joining two railroads, one in the Argentine Republic and the other in Chili. It appears that up to the present time little or nothing has been done by Mr. Clark to carry out his contract, on account of the crisis, and the difficulty of obtaining money in foreign markets without a government guaranty. In the modified concession just passed by Congress, the Argentine Government guarantees to pay 7 per cent. in gold or in bonds, but in sufficient amounts to produce 7 per cent. in gold to the holders of the shares, whether the road earns it or not. With this guaranty of the national government, and as Mr. Clark has a similar guaranty from the Government of Chili, it is believed that he will experience little or no difficulty in obtaining sufficient money in the London market to carry out the project; and but a short time will elapse before the "pack-mule" in the Andes will give way to the steam-engine, and direct and rapid communication will be had between the Pacific coast and the River la Plate. The custom-house law for 1878 failed to pass because of a disagreement of the senate and house of deputies on certain modifications adopted by the senate. The law will be considered in the special session. Buenos Ayres, October 8, 1877. (Received November 30.) SIR: The proclamation of amnesty, in the annual message of Presi dent Avellenada to the Argentine Congress of May last, and noted in my dispatch number 140, to all in exile, and the restoration of the officers of the army to their former ranks, who were implicated in the revolution of 1874, was formally accepted on yesterday (Sunday, October 7) at a public meeting in the Plaza, in front of the government house, by General Mitre and his political triends. Since the date of the President's message many conferences have been held, from time to time, between General Mitre and his friends on the one side and the President and General Alsina, who is considered the real leader of the government party. As a result of the common understanding and reconciliation arrived at between the parties, a change in the cabinet of the President has taken place, in which Dr. Irigozere, who, up to the 2d instant, was minister of foreign affairs, has been appointed |