724.8415/2072 ½
The Argentine Ambassador (Espil) to the
Chairman of the Commission of Neutrals (White)
[Translation]
Washington, August 9,
1932.
Mr. President: I have the pleasure of
writing to you, on behalf of my Government, and of sending you,
herewith, the text of the agreement signed on the sixth of the
current month in the City of Buenos Aires by Brazil, Chile, Peru and
Argentina.
By decision of the representatives of the first three countries, the
Argentine Chancellery was charged with transmitting the said
agreement to the Commission of Neutrals in this Capital.
I will appreciate it very much if the President will communicate the
text thereof to the other members of the Commission.36
I present [etc.]
[Page 168]
[Enclosure—Translation]
Text of the Agreement Signed by the Republics
of Argentina, Peru, Brazil, and Chile on August 6, 1932, in
the City of Buenos Aires
The Governments of the Republics of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and
Peru, in view of the disturbing situation created between the
Republics of Bolivia and Paraguay as a consequence of the
incidents occurring in the Chaco Boreal conflict; desirous of
preserving the interests of peace in America, seriously
threatened by the imminent danger of war; in order to safeguard
the moral responsibility which devolves upon them, as
representatives of States belonging to the same continental
sisterhood, of seeing to the strengthening of international
juridical institutions, the use of which in the solution of
difficult controversies has been until now a reason for
legitimate pride on their part; firmly believing that the
peaceful means existing for the solution of international
disputes place at the disposal of the disagreeing nations
resources sufficient to avoid armed conflict, however embittered
the disagreements and however exigent the susceptibilities may
be; recalling that in positive international law there are norms
in force, strictly applicable to the case, such as the Hague
conventions of 1899 and 1907, for the pacific settlement of
international disputes, which creates a Commission of Inquiry
and furnishes the necessary elements for possible arbitration;
the Covenant of the League of Nations, of which both countries
are members, which assures the exercise of pacific means
utilizing mediation and arbitration; and the Inter-American
Conciliation Convention signed at Washington January 5, 1929,
which likewise creates organs having the same purpose, and
bearing in mind that these formal [solemnes] instruments could not fall into disuse
without injury to the prestige of the tradition invariably
maintained by the countries of America in international
congresses; free from all bias of partiality, and guided by the
equal good will which they bear to the nations involved in the
contention; without passing judgment in advance either upon the
origin of the dispute or upon the responsibilities attaching to
the incidents thereof, agree:
- First. To invite the Republics of Bolivia and Paraguay
to make a supreme effort towards concord, laying aside
the warlike attitude, stopping all military mobilization
and preventing the outbreak of war;
- Second. To offer together their friendly services to
Bolivia and Paraguay in order to receive from both
nations and give proper course to any suggestions or
proposals tending to bring about a conciliatory
settlement, in conformity with the declaration signed on
August 3, by nineteen countries of America and in
relation with the Commission of Neutrals;
- Third. To keep united in order to offer their
adherence and their collaboration to the Commission of
Neutrals assembled at Washington, with the aim of
preventing in their character as limitrophe countries,
war between the Republics of Bolivia and
Paraguay;
- Fourth. To communicate simultaneously this declaration
of international fairness, friendship and purpose of
peace to the Governments of Bolivia and Paraguay and to
the Commission of Neutrals at Washington.
Buenos
Aires, August 6, 1932.
-
Carlos Saavedra Lamas
-
Felipe Berrada Laos
-
J. P. de Assis Brasil
-
Jorge Silva Yoachan
