File No. 834.00/108.
The American Chargé
d’Affaires to the Secretary of
State.
No. 42, Paraguay.]
American Legation,
Montevideo,
August 8, 1911.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose copy of a
despatch received from the consul at Asuncion relative to the condition
of affairs in Paraguay. As the Department will perceive, Consul Ferris
does not venture to make any prediction regarding the turn which events
may take in the future.
The newspapers of Montevideo and Buenos Aires usually contain telegrams
from Asuncion, but the state of affairs in Paraguay appears so confused
that, having no knowledge of that country at first hand, I do not feel
competent to do otherwise than transmit the reports sent me by Consul
Ferris without comment.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure.]
The American Consul at
Asuncion to the American Chargé
d’Affaires.
American Consulate,
Asuncion,
August 2, 1911.
Sir: I have to report that on the 31st
ultimo certain army officers attempted to coerce the Provisional
President to complete the formation of a ministry favorable to the
Liberal Party, and to reincorporate into the army certain officers
who had taken part in the last revolution against the Government.
The attempt did not succeed as planned, but just how it was
frustrated I am not able to state. Troops were posted in the
different parts of the city and the police force is concentrated in
its headquarters. The situation is still unsettled.
An interesting feature of the situation is the action of the
Argentine and Brazilian diplomatic representatives, who tendered
their good offices to harmonize the diverse political elements, but
who said that in case of fighting in the streets, forces would be
landed from the naval vessels of those two countries to preserve
order.
I have not sent this information by telegraph on account of the
telegraphic service being so unreliable, and because political
changes are so frequent that they seem to me not important enough to
telegraph. Furthermore it is very difficult to obtain information
that is definite and reliable.
Very respectfully yours,
