724.3415/3556: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 24—9:25 a.m.]
35. 1. Secretary General has received a communication from the League Chaco Commission at Buenos Aires of which the following are the chief elements:
(a) The Commission met together with the two disputants on February 21 and found it impossible to reconcile their respective viewpoints.
(b) The essential clauses of a draft treaty of 10 articles which the Commission presented to the two Governments on February 22 with the request that it be accepted before March 1.
(c) The Commission communicated this draft treaty to the Argentine Government, the President of Uruguay and to the Ambassadors of Brazil, Chile, Peru and the United States. (I therefore assume that the text is available to the Department.)
(d) With regard to the draft treaty the Commission feels that the two states respectively should take the following advantageous points into consideration.
“Paraguay: (1) The Hayes Zone excluded from arbitration. (2) Paraguay acquires police rights for all parts of the Chaco important to her. (3) Equality of effectives and control of the production of arms.
Bolivia: (1) Legal arbitration assured with only the sacrifice of Bolivia’s position respecting the Hayes Zone. (2) Abandonment of the inquiry concerning responsibility with a view to sanctions which Paraguay has demanded. (3) Limitation of effectives and arms during a reasonable period only and the possibility of increasing them. (4) Police rights which Paraguay wished to refuse. (5) Prompt repatriation of her numerous prisoners. (6) Economic questions not intermingled with juridical questions. (7) Juridical position entirely safeguarded.
(e) In addition to the foregoing points the Commission feels that both parties should understand that this probably constitutes the last chance for peace which will be presented for some time to come.”
2. The Secretary General has in the name of the President of the Council telegraphed to the Governments of the Argentine, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Great Britain, France and Italy asking these Governments “to employ their high authority in giving urgent support to the proposals of the Commission and to recommend to the Governments of the two parties to accept these bases for an honorable and equitable solution susceptible of restoring peace”. The telegram to the three European powers includes a résumé of the essentials of the draft treaty.
[Page 55]3. The Secretary General has communicated to me a request in like terms to the American Government. (Note Consulate’s 31, February 16, 4 p.m., paragraph 3).30
4. The Secretary General would very much appreciate receiving advices respecting such pertinent action as may be taken by the United States Government.
5. None of the foregoing is yet being made public here.
- Not printed.↩