724.3415/1820 13/15

Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (White)

Ambassador Cruchaga called and inquired about the Chaco situation and I advised him with regard thereto. I told him that we had a telegram from Mr. Culbertson, about the meeting called in Santiago yesterday14 and said that in reply I had advised Mr. Culbertson that, in response to an inquiry from Brazil as to whether Argentina would join with her in taking action to prevent hostilities in the Chaco, Argentina had replied that it would be willing to do so and that it thought it could be most effective at present by supporting in La Paz and Asunción the efforts of the Neutrals here and in keeping Bolivia and Paraguay in the conference in Washington. I said that I had told Mr. Culbertson that the Neutrals would of course be pleased with any assistance in this sense which Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru would give in Asunción and La Paz.

Mr. Cruchaga said that he had a telegram covering the meeting in Santiago yesterday and suggesting that it might be well to enlarge the Commission of Neutrals. I told him that this suggestion had been discussed before and that one country had definitely refused to join the Commission and another had not been enthusiastic about doing so. I also mentioned Bolivia’s resentment against any such a measure and said I thought that at this particularly critical moment we should avoid any action which would give Bolivia a chance to withdraw from the conference, putting the blame for such action on someone else. I added that of course this Government would welcome the other four countries mentioned in the Neutral Commission but, in view of the circumstances, it did not seem applicable at this time, and [Page 147] I thought that action would be more effective if, instead of nine nations acting as one in their recommendations, as the five Neutrals are doing, action by the Neutrals could be sustained by the independent action of the other four countries. Mr. Cruchaga said that he fully agreed and that he would cable to his Government in that sense.

He also told me that he thought he would remain on as Ambassador.

F[rancis] W[hite]
  1. Telegram No 148, July 25, 11 p.m., p. 143.