721.2315/159: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil ( Morgan )

15. Brazilian Chargé this morning left a note at the Department4 stating that Brazil would have no reason to oppose Peruvian-Colombian [Page 441] treaty if Peru would assure Brazil that in any arrangement for settlement of its boundary question with Colombia it will make as a condition recognition of the Apaporis-Tabatinga line established by the Treaty of 1851 and the consequent dominion of Brazil over the territory to the east of that line. The note added that if Colombia recognizes the above line Brazil will be pleased to grant Colombia freedom of navigation on the rivers common to the two countries. The Department therefore suggests a meeting in the Secretary of State’s office between the Secretary of State, the Peruvian Ambassador, the Colombian Minister and the Brazilian Chargé, a Procès Verbal of the same to be drawn up in the following terms:

“Doctor Hernán Velarde, Doctor Enrique Olaya, and Mr. Samuel de Sousa Leão Gracie, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Peru, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Colombia, and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Brazil, respectively, having on the invitation of the Secretary of State of the United States, met with him in his office at the Department of State, Washington, at . . . . . o’clock on February . ., 1925:

Mr. Hughes stated that he had invited Messrs. Velarde, Olaya and Gracie to his office to discuss the boundary treaty between Colombia and Peru signed in Lima March 24, 1922, against the ratification of which formal protest had been lodged in Lima by the Brazilian Government. Mr. Hughes stated that the three Governments concerned had requested his good offices in the settlement of this question and, after carefully considering the matter, he desired to suggest as a solution of the difficulty the following:

  • First. The withdrawal by the Government of Brazil of its objection to the ratification of the boundary treaty between Colombia and Peru;
  • Second. The ratification by Colombia and Peru of the above mentioned boundary convention;
  • Third. The signing, immediately after the ratification of the above convention, of a convention between Brazil and Colombia by which the boundary between those countries would be agreed to on the Apaporis-Tabatinga line, Brazil agreeing to establish in perpetuity in favor of Colombia freedom of navigation on the Amazon and other rivers common to both countries.

Mr. Gracie then stated that he was authorized by his Government to accept the friendly suggestion which the Secretary of State had just made and that in consequence he was instructed by his Government to inform the Peruvian Ambassador that Brazil withdraws its opposition to the Colombian-Peruvian treaty above mentioned on the understanding that Peru will make as a condition in settling its boundary question with Colombia, the recognition of the Apaporis-Tabatinga line as described by the treaty of 1851 and in consequence Brazilian dominion over the territory to the east thereof. Mr. Gracie added that should Colombia agree to recognize the above mentioned Apaporis-Tabatinga line Brazil was ready to agree in the same convention to establish in perpetuity in favor of Colombia freedom of [Page 442] navigation on the River Amazon and other rivers common to both countries.

Doctor Olaya then stated that he was authorized by his Government to accept the friendly suggestion just made by the Secretary of State. Doctor Olaya added that he was authorized to state that on the condition that the treaty of March 24, 1922, between Colombia and Peru, should be ratified by the Government of Peru the Government of Colombia would agree to conclude immediately thereafter a treaty with Brazil recognizing as the frontier between the two countries the village of Tabatinga, and from that place to the north the direct line until it meets the River Yapurá at its junction with the Apaporis, and in consequence Brazilian dominion over the territory to the east thereof, it being understood that Brazil in the same treaty would agree to establish in perpetuity in favor of Colombia freedom of navigation on the Amazon and other rivers common to both countries.

Doctor Velarde then stated that he also was authorized by his Government to express its acceptance of the friendly suggestion which the Secretary of State had just made and that as a consequence of the assurance just given by the Colombian Minister that, immediately upon the ratification of the boundary treaty of March 24, 1922 by Peru, Colombia would conclude a treaty with Brazil recognizing as the frontier the Apaporis-Tabatinga line described by the treaty of 1851 and in consequence Brazilian dominion over the territory to the east thereof, thus meeting the condition upon which the Brazilian Government withdrew its protest to the ratification of the Colombian-Peruvian treaty of March 24, 1922, his Government would immediately advise the Peruvian Congress thereof, repeating at the same time its recommendation that it approve the boundary treaty with Colombia.

The Ambassador of Peru, the Minister of Colombia, and the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Brazil then stated that they desired to express the gratitude of their respective Governments for the good offices of the (Secretary of State exerted in such an amicable manner in the interest of harmony between the three interested Republics in order to adjust the questions considered in the meeting recorded by this Procès Verbal.

This Procès Verbal of the meeting, drawn up in quadruplicate, was signed by the Secretary of State, the Ambassador of Peru, the Minister of Colombia, and the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Brazil. One copy will be retained by the Secretary of State, who will send of the remaining three copies, one each to the Ambassador of Peru, the Minister of Colombia, and the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Brazil, respectively.”

Please communicate this text immediately to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and express the hope that he will find it possible to send instructions to the Brazilian Chargé in Washington without delay to take part in the meeting in the manner set forth above and to sign the Procès Verbal.

Hughes
  1. Not printed.