I have the honor to add that the Minister for Foreign Affairs told me
that he wanted the date of delivery of this note to coincide with that
of the appointment of a Paraguayan Minister at Washington but that,
since Dr. Ramon Caballero Bedoya has declined to accept that post and as
no one else is likely to be appointed immediately, it was determined to
send the note without further delay.
The desire of the Paraguayan Government to make some progress in the
settlement of the Chaco question has been discussed in numerous
despatches, and I have only to add that its anxiety increases as time
passes.
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Paraguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs
(
Zubizarreta
) to the American
Chargé (
Faust
)
Asunción
, April 20, 1931.
No. 502 (bis)
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: The Government of
the United States of America and other Governments offered their
good offices to Paraguay and Bolivia in carrying on negotiations for
the purpose of finding ways to settle the boundary dispute pending
between the two countries named.
This offer suggested the idea that the Governments of the interested
parties should initiate direct conversations, at Washington or some
other capital, through their diplomatic representatives, and that a
neutral organ of merely advisory or cooperative character should be
[Page 716] formed for the
contingency of an impasse between the said parties or to help
overcome any obstacles that might arise during the proceedings.
In this state of affairs, the Government of Paraguay hastened to
accept the aforementioned offer, expressing thanks for the amicable
attitude and friendly spirit manifested therein.
My Government has not received official advice of Bolivia’s reply,
but it knows that the latter country made reservations and laid down
premises which in a way constituted conditions on its
acceptance.
The Government of Paraguay, consistently with its invariable policy,
and seeing in the good offices so graciously offered a new
opportunity to put forth efforts toward finding a solution of the
questions connected with the boundary dispute, reaffirms the
acceptance which it accorded.
It must, nevertheless, in anticipation of misinterpretations, declare
that such acceptance does not, even by implication signify the
slightest acquiescence in the reservations and premises formulated
by Bolivia.
The Government of Paraguay, in its desire to preserve the precious
blessings of peace and in order worthily to respond to the friendly
action of the neutral Governments, is disposed to cooperate in the
aforementioned negotiations in the best spirit, but free from any
commitment and without binding engagements which might trammel its
judgment in defense of the sacred interests of its country or in any
wise interfere with its decisions.
The internal political events of Bolivia and, in consequence thereof,
the formation of a de facto Government46 opened
a gap in the operation of the good offices. This cause of delay has
now disappeared with the assumption of power by a constitutional
Government and the time has come to know whether it is willing to
accept these offices or not.
My Government desires that through such reply the gracious offer of
the neutral Governments may lead to a conclusion, since the offer
should not remain in suspense indefinitely.
I do not need to emphasize the dangers involved in the present
situation owing to the military advances of Bolivia into the Chaco,
that is, into a territory possessed in its entirety by Paraguay from
the most remote time, and—what is more grave—into a zone which the
award of Mr. Hayes, President of the United States of America,47 recognized over half a century
ago, in an arbitral proceeding which afforded him full knowledge of
the case, as belonging lawfully to my country. These advances, which
are detrimental to the rights of my country and disturb its ancient
and peaceful possession, are still more grievous owing to their
military character. They have caused a state of things to exist [Page 717] in the Chaco which justly
irritates the public conscience of my country and have, craftily and
in violation of the compacts designed to regulate the conduct of the
two parties, brought about a proximity exposed to every kind of
incidents.
My Government wishes once more to state that Paraguay has never
shunned a discussion of her rights for the simple reason that she
relies on them, and never has she refused to seek essentially
juridical means of solving all the aspects of the boundary question.
She has given abundant proofs of this spirit.
Consequently, and in view of the circumstances that a new regular
Government has been set up in Bolivia, my Government would be
thankful to that of Your Excellency and to all the other Governments
associated with it in the offer of good offices if they would kindly
inform it as to whether these good offices are to be carried into
practice.
I avail myself [etc.]
