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If the Empire of Brazil's threat to break off diplomatic ties with countries that have pacts with the United Republic is a serious one, then they may as well break off ties with our nation due to our recently signed agreement with the former United Kingdom. Their rhetoric runs counter to the purpose and logic behind the Pan-American Conference and it only serves to show the need of a united conference for all countries of the Americas to sit down and air their grievances in a neutral and safe setting. I fully expect them to be in Panama along with representatives of the rest of the sovereign nations of the Americas. If the Empire of Brazil can even begin to consider itself a "powerhouse" of the Americas, then they should do well to look at matters rationally and dispense with threats of non-participation.

-- William Seward
United States Secretary of State