723.2515/3261
The Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs (Morgan) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: The Bolivian Minister called to say that his Government was naturally much interested over the rumors, which appeared to be well substantiated, to the effect that Chile and Peru were carrying on direct negotiations in Lima looking to a settlement of the boundary dispute. Naturally he had heard various reports as to the form that these negotiations were taking, but nothing which he could consider authentic. His Government was expecting him to keep it informed of developments in this [Page 726] problem of such vital importance to Bolivia, and he was somewhat at a loss to know what to report. He did not ask for any information which was confidential; of course he appreciated the fact that certain information which you received in your capacity as mediator could not be divulged, but he thought that probably there was something which you could tell him for the information of his Government, in order that they might have a slight idea of the nature of the settlement which might be expected. For example, whether there was any chance that it would follow the lines of the Kellogg Formula of 1926,2 which of course would be very satisfactory to Bolivia. Or whether it would follow some other form. Bolivia did not wish to raise any obstacles in the way of any settlement which might be on the point of being brought about, but would like to know what was to be expected, and of course his Government was relying upon him to report. He found himself in a very embarrassing position vis-à-vis his own Government when he could tell them nothing whatever. He asked me to bring this matter to your attention and inquire whether he might have a brief conversation with you in which you might be able to give him frankly some indication of the actual situation with regard to the possible settlement of the Tacna-Arica question.
- See minutes of meeting of the Plenipotentiaries, June 4, 1926, Foreign Relations, 1926, vol. i, p. 462.↩