710.11/204½
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I enclose you a copy of a memorandum which I have just received from the Brazilian Ambassador.11 You will notice that in the first paragraph reference is made to the guaranty of national integrity and the control of the manufacture and sale of arms. In the last paragraph reference is made to the [Page 485] Monroe Doctrine. The second paragraph, while not very clear, indicates that they do not think it wise to have a time set for the arbitration of existing disputes. In view of Chile’s objection to this and Brazil’s attitude on the subject, why would it not be well to modify the arbitration section to read something as follows:
“All boundaries now agreed upon are guaranteed for the future; all differences now existing as to boundaries will be specifically set forth in the treaty according to the views of the parties interested and the boundaries, when fixed, will be thereafter guaranteed. The parties will endeavor, according to their several interests, to reach an early settlement of existing disputes; all disputes arising in the future to be submitted to arbitration, provided those disputes do not affect the constitutions of the respective countries.”
Do you think that some such wording would answer for the statement of the proposition? As this treaty is to be agreed to by the nations entering into it, it is entirely possible that in the exchange of views it may be necessary to accept some change in the wording.
This memorandum does not mention the guaranty of republican form of government. I have asked Ambassador da Gama to say to his Government that the guaranty of a republican form of government having been formerly endorsed by Brazil, and not being mentioned in this memorandum, we assume that the former endorsement still stands.
Now that we have Brazil’s answer do you not think it would be wise to communicate this plan confidentially to the representatives of the other Latin-American countries so that they can be securing the opinions of their respective governments? The sooner we can get this before the public the better, for the influence it may have across the Atlantic. I am not sure but it might be well to give it to the public at the time we present it, as was done when we announced the peace plan which provides for investigation in all cases. I shall be pleased to have your instructions in this matter.
With assurances [etc.]
- Not printed.↩