File No. 722.2315/595.
The Counselor of the Department of State to the Chargé d’Affaires of Brazil.
Washington , July 22, 1913 .
Dear Mr. Chermont: Referring to our conversation this afternoon, I now write to you personally what I then suggested, namely, that if it should be proposed by the mediating powers to Peru and Ecuador that the President of the United States be chosen as arbitrator, it would seem to be more suitable that this proposal should be conveyed to those two Governments by Brazil and Argentina without the nominal concurrence of the United States. Should this proposal be so made and be found to be unacceptable to Ecuador and Peru, then, if it should subsequently be decided to propose the appointment of a mixed commission consisting of a Peruvian, an Ecuadorian, and a citizen of some third power, to sit at Washington or some other American capital, there would be no embarrassment to this Government in joining Brazil and Argentina in making the latter proposal.
Believe me [etc.]