Office of the Historian

721.2315/121

The Ambassador in Peru (Poindexter) to the Secretary of State

Lima, January 15, 1924.
[Received January 30.]
No. 107

Sir: Reference is made to my despatch No. 88 of December 1, 1923.73

I have the honor to report that Congress adjourned the 11th instant.

The signed treaty of March 24, 1922,73a fixing the Colombian-Peruvian frontier, was not submitted to Congress for ratification. This long-standing controversy thus has no prospect of settlement for the present; probably not before 1925. The new Congress, I understand, is not to convene until October next, the time fixed for the celebration of the Ayacucho Centenary.

Since last reporting to the Department regarding the status of this treaty, I had occasion again to see the President and, in the spirit of the Department’s instructions on the subject, I once more raised the subject of ratification—deeming this opportune in view of the Colombian Minister’s categoric denial and representations to the Peruvian Government following President Leguía’s statement that Mr. Lozano74 had acquiesced in postponing ratification until the convening of the next Congress.

President Leguía again spoke of Brazilian opposition but volunteered the information—in the form of a definite assurance—that he would submit the treaty to Congress during the session which has just ended. The President has not as yet offered me any explanation for not having carried out his announced intention.

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It may be opportune to add that though I have had several conversations with the Colombian Minister, I have taken pains to avoid giving the Peruvian Government any impression that there has been cooperation between us. I limited my actions to that inspired by the disinterested friendship of my Government for both countries and its desire to see the adjudication of this Continent’s long-standing controversies.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I have [etc.]

Miles Poindexter
  1. Not printed; see telegram no. 46, Nov. 16, from the Ambassador in Peru Foreign Relations, 1923, vol. i, p. 353.↩
  2. League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. lxxiv, p. 9.↩
  3. Colombian Minister to Peru.↩