724.3415/1416: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Morgan)
70. Your 70, October 9, noon. On June 25 the neutral governments inquired of Bolivia and Paraguay whether they were disposed to authorize their diplomatic representatives in Washington to enter into negotiations regarding the settlement of outstanding territorial and frontier difficulties in the Chaco, such negotiations to be supplemented by such further negotiations between the diplomatic representatives of Paraguay and Bolivia in Asunción and La Paz respectively as the two governments might deem advantageous.
The neutral governments at the same time renewed their readiness to have their diplomatic representatives in Washington keep in touch with the situation as it develops in order that when proper they might be utilized for the organization of a commission composed of delegates specially appointed thereto.
This note was never answered by Paraguay. The Bolivian Government on July 25, confirmed its conditional acceptance of the good offices proffered, and after a long exposition of its point of view on the question of arbitration of this matter, concluded by saying that “it would be disposed to study immediately a pact of non-aggression in the Chaco, of such a nature as to guarantee internal peace and tranquility, with the purpose of entering into negotiations that would carry the territorial controversy to an equitable and definite ending under the auspices of a procedure propitious to a pacific settlement.”
On August 6 the neutral governments, in view of the above, inquired of both the Paraguayan and Bolivian Governments whether they would be disposed to study immediately such a pact. The neutral governments added that they felt that this suggestion of the Bolivian Government was an encouraging one and they did not hesitate to give it full support and to express the hope that both Governments would be willing to study such a pact.
[Page 760]The neutral governments furthermore suggested that it would be most suitable and helpful if both governments would declare their intention not to send more troops into the Chaco, to withdraw the troops already there, and to give strict and explicit orders that there should be no friction or disturbance of any sort pending the negotiation of the pact of non-aggression.
Paraguay accepted the neutrals’ proposal to study the pact of non-aggression but made no reference to the suggestion regarding troops.
The Bolivian Government also agreed to discuss a non-aggression pact and said that it would so authorize its diplomatic representative in Washington, or designate a special commission provided with sufficient instructions and powers for that purpose.
Regarding the withdrawal of troops in the Chaco, Bolivia stated that it had long ago given necessary instructions to its military commanders to avoid carefully any collision with Paraguayan forces, except in cases of legitimate defense. It regretted that it was not possible to accede to the request that it retire its present garrisons because they constitute the visible sign of its dominion over that territory and are to interpose a barrier to the advances carried on in that region.
On September 21 the neutral representatives in Washington suggested to Bolivia and Paraguay that the first meeting to discuss the non-aggression pact take place in Washington on October 1. Paraguay replied that it could not get instructions to its representatives by that date and would suggest that the meeting be postponed until November. Bolivia replied that it would send a special commission and asked that the meeting be postponed until the commission could arrive in Washington but suggested no date.
In order to give time for the delegations to arrive, and after consulting steamer schedules to this end, the neutral representatives on October 3 designated November 11 as the date of the first meeting and requested the governments to instruct their representatives to meet with the representatives in Washington of the neutral governments, on that day.
In view of the serious clashes that had been occurring in the Chaco, and feeling that something more was necessary than merely fixing a date which, by force of circumstances, had to be delayed for well over a month, and in view of the reasons given by the Bolivian Government why it could not withdraw its troops from the Chaco, the neutral representatives at the same time despatched a second note to the two governments, stating that they had viewed with concern the recent encounter of Bolivian and Paraguayan troops in the Chaco and that in order to contribute in a positive way to the maintenance of peace in that region, they had the honor to suggest that those governments [Page 761] give categoric instructions to the commanders of all their forces in the Chaco that their military forces be strictly confined within the limits of their respective forts in order to avoid any further incidents or clashes and thus make easier the task of the representatives of the two governments when they meet in Washington on November 11 to draw up a pact of non-aggression.
There have been no definite replies to these notes as yet, although the Legation in Asuncioń has informed the Department that Mr. Soler, Paraguayan Minister to Mexico, and Señor Vasconcellos, leader of the Colorado Party in the House of Deputies, would be appointed to represent Paraguay and that Señor Vasconcellos would reach New York on November 10 and will come immediately to Washington. Mr. Soler will reach Washington earlier.
Please explain the situation as set forth above, to the Minister For Foreign Affairs and say that any assistance which he can give in supporting the neutrals’ proposals and in inducing the Bolivian Government to be represented at the conference on November 11, and in inducing both governments to accept the suggestion that their troops be confined within the limits of their forts, will be most helpful and welcome by this Government and the neutral representatives in Washington.
The Department is informed that there is at present opposition in Bolivia to the discussion of a pact of non-aggression. It should be noted in this connection that the first suggestion for such a pact came from the Bolivian Government in its note of July 25th and did not originate with the neutrals.
Please report any developments to the Department. Department has kept Brazilian Ambassador, as well as the Argentina, Chilean and Peruvian Ambassadors in touch with the situation, and will advise you also of any further important developments.