724.3415/716b: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to the American Diplomatic Representatives in Bolivia and Paraguay
I handed to the Mexican Ambassador, Colombian Minister, and the Cuban and Uruguayan Chargés d’Affaires this afternoon the following suggested communication for the representatives in La Paz and Asunción of the five neutral governments to make to the Bolivian and Paraguayan Governments. You will please be prepared to transmit this communication on behalf of this Government to the Government to which you are accredited upon receiving further instructions from the Department to that effect. You will understand that it is not to be presented without further instructions. Text follows:
“My Government is impressed with the vital importance of maintaining some friendly neutral machinery for dealing with difficulties that may arise between Bolivia and Paraguay pending the definitive settlement of the question now unhappily existing between them. It was clearly brought out last December that only the fortunate circumstance that the Pan American Conference of Arbitration and Conciliation was in session prevented an armed conflict between these two sister nations of this hemisphere. As a result of the good offices of that Conference a Commission was set up to lend its good offices to the parties in terminating the conflict and this Commission succeeded in overcoming many obstacles and in conciliating the events of last December in accordance with the protocol of January 3, 1929. The fundamental question, however, remains and while it is unsettled there is almost as much danger as there was last December that further unfortunate incidents may occur. In this connection it may be mentioned that there are some fifty-two forts belonging to the two parties facing one another in the Chaco and that relatively large bodies of troops from both sides are concentrated there.
In examining the statements made by both parties it is seen that they are in agreement in many respects. Paraguay has suggested the continuance of the Commission to help in a solution of the fundamental question, while Bolivia has suggested that direct negotiations be resorted to. Bolivia, however, states its willingness to take into consideration the suggestions of a Commission of neutrals at the time of renewing the negotiations for a settlement of the fundamental question. It would seem therefore that the wishes of both parties may be [Page 904] met by their agreement to enter immediately into direct negotiations for a settlement, at the same time establishing a Commission composed of members of the five neutral nations represented on the Commission whose labors terminated on September 13th, this Commission to be available not only to take up the work should the direct negotiations unfortunately not succeed but also to render its good offices with a view to overcoming obstacles which may arise during the course of the direct negotiations thereby being in a position perhaps to help those direct negotiations to a successful conclusion.
The United States Government has offered its capital as a place for holding the direct negotiations and for establishing the Commission, in view of the fact that the Pan American Conference of Arbitration and Conciliation and the Commission of Inquiry and Conciliation emanating therefrom were held in that city where there is already established the Secretariat General and other machinery for facilitating this work. It should be distinctly understood, however, that the preoccupation of the five neutral governments in harmony with the views of the American nations embodied in the General Convention of Inter-American Conciliation concluded on January 5, 1929,71 is solely that there should be machinery immediately established that may be used in helping the negotiations and in preventing conflicts. It is immaterial where this machinery shall be established and should the contending parties agree on any other capital than Washington this will be eminently satisfactory to the five governments concerned.
As to the composition of the Commission it may be stated that certain of the delegates have other duties to perform which would make it a great hardship on them to continue on the new Commission and therefore it may be necessary for certain of the neutral governments to appoint new delegates. All the governments stand ready to do so should either or both of the two contending parties express such a desire.”