DIPLOMATIC, CORRESPONDENCE. 175

of the boundary. question, and that the government of Ohili had hastened to in-
form it that, under these circumstances, it was with great regret obliged to de-
cline availing itself at present of so generous an offer; that from that time to the
present the state of affairs having undergone no change whatever favorable to
mediation, he found himself compelled to give. to this legation the same reply
as that given to Peru.

Expressing a determination to avoid as fay as possible the painful conse-
quences which might result from this rupture, and a hope that Bolivia may yet
return upon her steps and offer to Chili the reparation she demands as a con-
dition precedent to all discussion, his excellency concluded by stating that in

_ such an event it would be very grateful to Chili to recur, if necessary, to the

friendly offices of the United States.

It will be observed that while my suggestion of arbitration embraced all
the points in dispute between the two republics, the secretary of foreign rela-
tions, in his reply, has deemed proper to consider the boundary question as
alone referred to. .

It is my opinion that Chili will avoid a reference to arbitration of the questions
in dispute, and that she will maintain her claim to jurisdiction over the desert
of Atacama, especially since Bolivia is not in a position to recur to other argu-
ments than those of diplomacy. (

M. Tocornal having expressed a desire to publish the notes exchanged between
this legation and the department of foreign relations upon the Chili-Bolivian
question, I gave my consent thereto, and, upon the 19th instant, the correspond-
ence appeared in the “Arancano,” the official organ of the government. It was
very generally copied into the newspapers of the country, and commented upon»
by them in a spirit of cordial good.feeling towards the United States. (See en-

- closure D.)—

_ While the instructions given me upon this subject were of a character more
general than specific, I have thought it my duty to do all in my power to avert

-. the disastrous consequences of a war between two sister republics of America,
deeming it important not only to cultivate the most friendly relations between

our own country and that to which I have the honor to be accredited, but also
to interpose the good offices of our government to prevent the severance of those
friendly bonds between the country of my residence and neighboring republics. .
I trust that my action in the premises may be approved.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
‘ | THOMAS H. NELSON.
Hon. Wituiam H. SEwarp, |
Secretary of State of the United States.

Mr. Nelson to Mr. Tocornal.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATEs,
Santiago de Chili, February 12, 1864.
Sir: Ihave perused with the deepest interest the various arguments presented
by the republics of Chili and Bolivia in behalf of their respective claims to juris- |
diction over the desert of Atacama, and have most carefully studied the ante-

_ cedents of the discussion so far as published. —

It has appeared to me while Chili upon the one e hand, maintains unhesitatingly a

her right of dominion over the territory in dispute, and Bolivia, upon the other,

as persistently denies that right, that further discussion would but lead to the

teiteration of opinions heretofore expressed, and not tend to the solution of the
~ question of sovereignty.

These views were transmitted by me to the honorable Secretary of State of