724.3415/999: Telegram
The Chargé in Bolivia (Hibbard) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 7 p.m.]
13. My telegram No. 12, February 13, noon. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has been ill in bed for the past 10 days. The Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs informs me that a special Cabinet meeting had been called to draft an answer to the note of the neutral Governments of January 9, but that it has been postponed until the Minister for Foreign Affairs is able to attend. As the President is well aware of the Foreign Minister’s views, this in my opinion is only another excuse for delay.
Last night the central committee of the Nationalist Party and all departmental representatives met formally and unanimously declared themselves in favor of the continuance of the present administration, thus formalizing the manifesto previously circulated. All that is needed now is the President’s consent which will probably be given within the next week. The delay is due to a desire to find some way by which such a step can produce a semblance of constitutionality or, failing that, to permit artificially stimulated propaganda make such a move appear to be the unanimous will of the people.
Conditions in the Chaco appear to be quiet. Two of the planes sent there are now out of commission. The floods are reported to be heavy.