724.3415/3569: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:40 p.m.]
44. Referring to my telegram No. 40, February 26, 4 p.m.,35 the Minister for Foreign Affairs this afternoon informed me that a further examination of the League Commission formula, which he again emphasized he had no hand in drafting, showed it to be defective and that he had so informed the President of the Commission. He had last night invited the Paraguayan Delegate and Minister to discuss entire subject with him and with an Argentine officer, formerly president of an Argentine military commission in Paraguay, and that he and the latter had urged upon the Paraguayan representatives that nothing was to be gained by a prolongation of the war and that the occupation of Bolivia was unthinkable, adding that Argentina’s neutral attitude would be strictly continued. He urged that the foregoing be communicated to the President of Paraguay. I asked if the foregoing was not equivalent to at least a qualified support of the League formula to which he replied negatively saying his support was toward achievement of peace and that he was again urging this through his Ministers in the two belligerent capitals. He added that he was very pessimistic as to the success of the Commission negotiations and that it now looked as if American countries would have to renew their friendly offices.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs also discussed the matter today at luncheon with his legal adviser and the Bolivian Minister urging a reasonable attitude on Bolivia’s part.
- Not printed.↩