724.3415/716b: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to the American Diplomatic Representatives in Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Uruguay
This afternoon I handed to the Mexican Ambassador, Colombian Minister, and Cuban and Uruguayan Chargés d’Affaires a draft of a suggested communication for the five governments to make separately to the Governments of Bolivia and Paraguay.
All the Neutral Commissioners on the Commission of Inquiry and Conciliation feel very strongly as I do that a very serious situation will almost inevitably arise should the negotiations between the two contending parties drift on without definite direction and without continuing some friendly neutral machinery that can use its good offices not only in promoting a direct settlement between the parties but in avoiding conflicts which must otherwise almost surely arise.
[Page 905]In discussing this matter with the diplomatic representatives of the neutral governments concerned I was gratified to find that they also share my feeling and that of the Neutral Commissioners. I am encouraged to hope therefore that this proposal will meet with the support of the four other neutral governments concerned in order that the communications may be made to the two contending parties without delay. As time is of the essence I desire you to hold yourself ready to discuss the matter at once with the Minister for Foreign Affairs as soon as he shall receive this communication from his Ambassador here and to get his suggestions and cable me if he agrees in order that a time for making the communications may be mutually agreed upon at the earliest possible moment.
The text of the communication is as follows:
[Here follows the text as quoted in the Department’s circular telegram of September 23, 6 p.m., to the American diplomatic representatives in Bolivia and Paraguay, printed supra.]