724.3415/302: Telegram
The Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Elio) to the Chairman of the International Conference of American States on Conciliation and Arbitration (Kellogg)
[Received December 18—7 p.m.]
I have the honor of informing Your Excellency that the Government of Bolivia accepts the good offices of the Conference on Conciliation and Arbitration presided over by Your Excellency. In this regrettable conflict created by the unjustified aggression of Paraguay, the Government of Bolivia has confined itself to maintaining the attitude imposed upon it by the inescapable need of safeguarding its dignity and sovereignty which is adjusted to the strictest international principles and practices.
I must record the fact that Bolivia has not mobilized her Army, having confined herself to entrusting to her military guards in El Chaco the care and defense of the outposts threatened by Paraguay. The Conference knows that Paraguay after attacking Bolivia and with the purpose of dissimulating the gravity of her offense immediately had recourse to requesting the application of the Pan American Treaty of May 3, 1923, which had not been ratified by Bolivia, and which it was not possible for her to accept in view of the serious crisis of public opinion provoked in my country by that act of violence that denies the assurances of correction and of respect for international duties on the part of Paraguay.
On entering upon the good offices Bolivia requires that the attack to the Vanguardia outpost be investigated in the first term without [Page 698] involving in this preliminary issue the basic questions of the dispute which are being submitted to arbitration in accordance with the procedure established by the Argentine suggestion of December, 1927, accepted by both countries.
I wish to inform Your Excellency that my Government has conveyed to the eminent President of Argentina, Señor Irigoyen, its acquiescence to his good offices in order to return to the procedure agreed upon in Buenos Aires for the settlement of the dispute between Bolivia and Paraguay.
Upon accepting the good offices of the Conference on Conciliation and Arbitration, Bolivia renders homage to the spirit of America and reiterates her adherence to the principles of justice with which her political conduct is inspired.
I salute [etc.]