724.3415/2018: Telegram
The Chargé in Brazil (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:10 p.m.]
82. Department’s circular telegram of August 8, 8 p.m. The Foreign Office reiterates that Brazil fully recognizes the importance of the support of the Neutral Commission by the neighboring countries, and that it proposes to continue on its part to render such support. In this respect it was pointed out that at the instance of Brazil the collective telegram proposed by Argentina (paragraph 2, my telegram No. 73, July 30, 4 p.m.) had been modified and addressed to the Neutral Commission instead of to the two contending Governments.
[Page 171]At the same time, however, the neighboring countries consider that they are peculiarly well situated to estimate conditions in Bolivia and Paraguay. Brazil has accordingly (presumably 2 days ago) authorized its representatives at Buenos Aires to join those of the other countries in addressing a new collective telegram to the Neutral Commission, suggesting that a 30 days’ truce be proposed to the contending states, extendable for another 30 days, during which each party should hold its present position. This step seemed necessary in view of the neighboring Governments’ apprehension that if Salamanca should yield further to the representations of the Commission he would be overthrown by the military and the outbreak of war would follow. A truce during which each party should retain its position is understood by Brazil to be acceptable to Paraguay.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has repeatedly assured me of Brazil’s support of the Neutral Commission, and I do not question his sincerity. If the Bolivian Government is meeting with any success in its effort to split the Neutral Commission and the neighboring states, might not this result from the fact that the two groups are meeting in widely separated places?