721.2315/122

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Colombia ( Piles )

No. 657

Sir: The receipt is acknowledged of your despatch No. 355, dated February 1, 1924, in which you state that you had informed President Ospina as far as discretion would permit of the substance of certain parts of despatch No. 88, dated December 1, 1923, from the American Ambassador at Lima regarding the boundary dispute and Treaty of 1922 between Colombia and Peru.

As you are aware, the good offices of this Government are frequently extended to assist in bringing about a settlement of a controversy between two parties when both sides so request. In the case of the boundary dispute between Colombia and Peru its friendly offices were extended at the request of one of the parties after some assurance was had that such action would not be unfavorably received by the other.

The Department has noted your statement that in the conversation with President Ospina on this subject you suggested that the Colombian Chargé d’Affaires at Lima, when he felt in need, have recourse to the advice of the American Ambassador who is thoroughly conversant with all angles of the situation. While the Department is gratified to learn of the President’s appreciation as expressed to you, it trusts that the Colombian Government fully realizes that this Government’s attitude in the matter is one of the strictest impartiality, and that President Ospina has not been led by your suggestion to believe that the efforts of this Government to be of assistance to the Colombian and Peruvian Governments in this question might extend beyond the informal and friendly acts already performed. The Department does not desire to appear as the agency suggesting or initiating measures which, if brought to the attention of the other party, might incline it to view further informal action with disfavor. For that reason, the Department considers that suggestions such as that made by you to the President of Colombia should in the future be avoided.

I am [etc.]

Charles E. Hughes