tions for such cases as will be full guidance in the future, and especially so now that the numerous friends of Mr. Suariz have so persistently asserted the contrary. I am, &c., No. 15. R. M. REYNOLDS. No. 49.] Mr. Fish to Mr. Reynolds. WASHINGTON, December 3, 1875. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 90, of the 5th of October last. It relates to the question of the right or privi lege of affording asylum to citizens or subjects of the government to which a minister may be accredited, and informs the Department of the refuge taken by Mr. Suariz, a citizen of Bolivia, in your legation, while you were temporarily absent, and of your refusal on your return to grant him asylum. In reply I have to state that your action in the matter, as set forth in your dispatch, meets with the approval of this Department. With reference to your request for the views of the Department upon this question, it may be remarked that it has been the universal practice of this Government to discountenance the granting of asylum by its diplomatic and consular officers. Among other objections to granting asylum to a citizen or subject of a foreign government, I may state that if persons charged with the commission of offenses can be sure of being screened in a foreign legation or consulate, they will be much more apt to attempt the overthrow of authority than if such a place of refuge were not open to them. The right of asylum to persons charged with the commission of political offenses within a foreign legation or consulate is believed to have no good reason for continuance, to be mischievous in its tendencies, and to tend to political disorder. These views have been frequently expressed, and while this Government is not able of itself to do away with the practice in foreign countries, it has not failed ou appropriate occasion to deprecate its existence and to instruct its representatives to avoid committing it thereto. Upon a recent occasion, occurring in the island of Hayti, where, as represented to the Department, the asylum was forced upon the minister, it was found necessary to give a renewed and emphatic expression to these views. It is believed that this brief statement of the views of the Department will act as a guide to the legation in the future, should any person seek shelter within its doors, which, however, it is hoped will not be the case, as by so doing it could not result otherwise than as a cause of annoyance and embarrassment to the minister, and tend to bring about questions of a vexatious and troublesome nature, which it is desirable to the interests of the two governments to avoid. I am, &c., HAMILTON FISH. No. 120.] No. 16. Mr. Reynolds to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, La Paz, Bolivia, June 1, 1876. (Received July 3.) SIR: I have the honor to report that the rebellion of the 4th of May at La Paz, referred to in former dispatches, has now full control of this entire republic, with the exception of the coast, or "littoral." Cochabamba, Potosi, Sucre, Oruro, and La Paz have proclaimed in favor of General Hilarion Daza as provisional president of Bolivia, and complete acquiescence has been secured without a single battle in any part of the country. The whole people have been taken by complete surprise, and no organized opposition has been permitted to become strong before the wellorganized forces of the revolution. The indications now are that the government, with General Hilarion Daza as president, will become the permanent government of Bolivia. Inclosed please find copies of correspondence had with J. Oblitas, secretary-general appointed by General Daza when he left with his army for South Bolivia. I have waited one month for developments of the revolution before forwarding this correspondence, and I now ask for such instructions from your excellency as may be deemed just in the premises. I am, &c., R. M. REYNOLDS. [Inclosure 1 in No. 120.-Translation.] SECRETARY-GENERAL OF STATE, SIR: By the political change which the people and the army conjointly have brought ab ut to-day, General Hilarion Daza has been proclaimed provisional president of this republic, the office of secretary-general of state having devolved upon me in person. To impart this knowledge to your excellency is my high honor. I subscribe myself, &c., To the CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES of the Anglo-American Confederation. J. OBLITAS. [Inclosure 2 in No. 120.] Mr. Reynolds to Mr. Oblitas. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note informing the "encargado de negocios de la Confederacion Anglo-Americano" of the political change of affairs in Bolivia by the proclamation of General Hilarion Daza as provisional president of the republic. This legation will take note of the fact reported, and the whole question will be referred to my Government for information and for such instructions as may be deemed necessary. You will please tender my sincere thanks to General H. Daza for his personal assurances to me that full protection would be given to all legation and consular flags, and that persons and property would be duly respected and the rights of all fully guaran teed. I am, &c., To Hon. J. OBLITAS, Secretary-General. R. M. REYNOLDS. No. 125.] No. 17. Mr. Reynolds to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, La Paz, Bolivia, August 23, 1876. (Received October 14.) SIR: I have the honor to report since my return to La Paz that I find the condition of public affairs substantially the same as reported in my dispatch June 30, (No. 123.) General H. Daza is still in the interior, and reported to be on his way to Oruro, where he will remain one week and then return to La Paz, via Corocoro, about the 20th September. No ministers of finance, war, or foreign affairs have been announced as yet, and the government is still administered by the military authority, as reported in my dispatch of June 30, referred to. There appears to be no opposition, whatever, to the authority of General Daza as President of Bolivia, and general peace prevails throughout the republic. Private property is respected and personal liberty is enjoyed by all, with the exception of the late President, Thomas Frias, who is now in Arequipa, Peru, an exile from Bolivia. The announcement of a new ministry is promised by General Daza upon his return to La Paz, of which the Department will be duly noti fied when it transpires. I am, &c., R. M. REYNOLDS. No. 129.] No. 18. Mr. Reynolds to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, La Paz, Bolivia, September 29, 1876. (Received November 14.) SIR: I have the honor to report that General Hilarion Daza made a triumphal entry into La Paz, as President of Bolivia, on the 24th instant. The time since his arrival has been devoted to festivities and army-parades. He has not named his ministers of the government, and no business has had the attention which, in many cases, was greatly needed. It is now announced that the ministry will be formed next week and the government duly inaugurated. No opposition has been met by President Daza, and, at this writing, all seems quiet and tranquil, with General H. Daza in full and complete possession of the government, as provisional president of the republic. When the cabinet is formed and officially announced, I will at once advise the Department. I am, &c., R. M. REYNOLDS. No. 154.] BRAZIL. No. 19. Mr. Fish to Mr. Partridge. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I inclose, herewith, a copy of a communication of the 12th instant, from the Secretary of the Navy, relative to the humane and courteous conduct of Baron Ivanheimer, of the Brazilian navy, in tendering to Capt. F. A. Roe, commanding the United States ship "Lancaster," the services of the surgeons of his flag-ship, the surgeon of the "Lancaster" having died at sea, and one of the assistant surgeons at Bahia, from yellow fever, and requesting that appropriate acknowledgments may be made to Baron Ivanheimer and to Dr. E. A. F. da Rocha, through this Department. I will consequently thank you to communicate to the minister for foreign affairs the facts mentioned in the inclosed letter of the Secretary of the Navy, and at the same time to request that the thanks of this Government may be conveyed to Baron Ivauheimer for his humane and generous offer to Captain Roe on the occasion referred to, and to Dr. da Rocha, who accompanied the "Lancaster" to this country, for his selfsacrificing spirit in undertaking a service which promised to be attended with anxiety, severe professional duty, and with great personal danger. I am, &c., HAMILTON FISH. [Inclosure.] Mr. Robeson to Mr. Fish. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, July 12, 1875. SIR: I have the honor to bring to your notice, in order that appropriate acknowledgments may be made to whom they are due, the humane and courteous conduct of Baron Ivanheimer and Dr. Euclides Alves Ferriera da Rocha, of the Brazilian navy. The facts are as follows: The U. S. ship Lancaster, Capt. F. A. Roe, commanding, having completed several years' service on the coast of Brazil as flag-ship of our squadron in those waters, sailed from Rio de Janeiro April 22 for the United States with every prospect of a pleasant and happy voyage. When a few days out yellow fever appeared on board, and in rapid succession four of her officers were taken down, among them the chief medical officer of the ship and one of the assistant surgeons, the former of whom died at sea and the latter after reaching Bahia. But one other medical officer remained for duty, and Captain Roe deemed it prudent, in view of the long distance to his port of destination and the probability of the disease spreading, to shape his course for Bahia, some four hundred miles to the westward. The Lancaster reached Balia May 9, where the assistant surgeon was transferred to the hospital and died, as above stated, two days afterwards. With upwards of four hundred souls on board, a long distance from home, the equatorial regions to pass through, and a prospect of the re-appearance of fever, the Lancaster was in an unfortunate condition, having but one medical officer on board for duty. As soon as Baron Ivanheimer, commanding the Brazilian squadron, then at Bahia, learned of the serious loss sustained by the Lancaster, he generously tendered to Captain Roe the services of one of his surgeons of the flag-ship, Dr. da Rocha, to accoinpany the Lancaster home. Captain Roe was more than glad to accept the kind offer of the baron, and to be thus assured of valuable professional services should the fever re-appear, a contingency most likely to occur. Happily the disease had disappeared with its last victim, and the Lancaster reached Hampton Roads June 26 with all well on board. Dr. da Rocha, exercising his own pleasure, his services being no longer required, left the ship at that point, and the Department is most happy in providing for his comfort and enjoyment while he is in this country, and will provide for his passage back to his station in the mail-steamer of the 23d instant from New York, the first opportunity for returning to his post, and which he proposes to avail himself of. The kindness and thoughtfulness of Baron Ivanheimer and the self-sacrificing spirit of Dr. da Rocha, in undertaking a service which promised to be attended with anxiety, severe professional duty, and great danger, meet with the Department's warmest appreciation and admiration, and I will be much gratified if you will make known to the government of Brazil, and through it to Baron Ivanheimer and Dr. da Rocha, the deep sense thus entertained of the aid extended to one of our ships of war, its officers and crew, in so trying an emergency. Rio de Janeiro, November 30, 1875. (Received Feb. 21, 1876.) SIR: I have the honor to inform you that a new, or at least a formal construction has been placed upon the custom-house regulations of this port in regard to friendly ships of war therein; and as it has probably grown out of a controversy between our squadron and the inspector of customs, which there is reason to believe may be laid before the Navy Department, I have thought it proper to explain as briefly as possible the circumstances connected therewith. Since the difficulty of two years ago, alluded to by Mr. Shannon in his No. 151, private stores have been dispatched free of duty; as a rule in the admiral's absence from Rio de Janeiro, they have been given up on the order of Paymaster A. W. Bacon, and, as a matter of practice, even in the admiral's presence. In the latter part of August certain cigars for the Brooklyn, and addressed as usual in the care of Mr. Bacon, as naval storekeeper, were refused free dispatch on his (Bacon's) request, the inspector, as bound to do in strictness, asking the admiral's request, on receipt of which the cigars were to be delivered. On the contrary, the request was returned briefly indorsed, "not possible." The Brooklyn being about to sail, in order to obtain the cigars, which, however, were not delivered in time, the duties were paid under protest and the case referred by the admiral to the legation in a note, of which inclosure 1 is a copy. Calling at the foreign office in the absence of the minister, I stated the case to Baron de Cabo Frio, director general, who requested me to restate it in an unofficial note. After some days a verbal message was sent me declining the request, on the ground that private goods in private vessels were not exempt from duty. The same day wine was dispatched free of duty for the French vessel "Vénus" on the request of the minister. Partly because this favor to the French was a flat contradiction of the principle, and partly because our officers complained that they knew not what might be imported by them duty free, and that in the then state of affairs they were subject to the variable decisions of the inspector, I addressed an official note, of which inclosure 2 is a copy, |