724.3415/1189 supp.: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Morgan)
41. Department’s 33, May 14, 2 p.m. Department received the last week in May a note addressed by the Paraguayan Government to the American Chargé d’Affaires at Asuncion on April 20, reiterating its acceptance of the offer of good offices of the neutral Governments and stating that with the inauguration of a constitutional Government of Bolivia the time had come to know whether the good offices would be proceeded with or not. Similar notes were sent to the other neutrals. Early in June the Department received from the Bolivian Legation here a copy of the circular from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia of April 11th regarding the Chaco matter. As a result, meetings of the neutrals were held in Washington on June 2d and 8th when the texts of notes to the Bolivian and Paraguayan Governments were [Page 730] agreed upon. The notes were then submitted to the neutral Governments, all of which have now approved and the notes will be delivered to the two Governments on Thursday, June 25th.
In note to Bolivia the five neutral Governments state that
“In view of the fact that the Bolivian and Paraguayan Governments seem to be in accord in their desires in the matter, have the honor to enquire whether the Bolivian Government is now disposed to authorize its diplomatic representative in Washington to enter into negotiations regarding the settlement of the outstanding territorial and frontier difficulties in the Chaco, such negotiations to be supplemented by such further negotiations between the diplomatic representatives of Bolivia and Paraguay in Asunción and La Paz respectively, as the two Governments may deem advantageous. The neutral Governments at the same time renew their readiness to have their diplomatic representatives in Washington keep in touch with the situation as it develops in order that when proper they may be utilized for the organization of a Commission which shall be composed of delegates especially appointed thereto.”
A similar statement was made in the note to Paraguay. The Department will be glad to have you confidentially advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the above and state that this Government would of course welcome any support the Brazilian Government would care to give to these notes to Bolivia and Paraguay.