724.8415/2055: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Bliss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:30 p.m.]
72. Your August 12, 6 p.m. Minister of Foreign Affairs tells me that he has consistently urged Bolivian and Paraguayan Ministers that their Governments should avoid war and that at this juncture the surest way to accomplish this would be for them to agree to suspend hostilities for a month, but that he has made no definite proposal to either Government. As to the details of a truce he has told them that it was a matter for them to arrange through the Neutral Commission in Washington.
He further told me that yesterday afternoon Paraguayan Minister came to see him accompanied by Doctor Vasconsellos, late delegate on Neutral Commission. They told him that Paraguay could not accept suspension of hostilities on basis of status quo and he replied that it was of utmost importance that they should accept proposal of Neutral Commission; that he had understood from President-elect Ayala that Paraguay was desirous of avoiding hostilities and willing to accept any reasonable proposal of Neutral Commission; that if Paraguay now thought it could confound the commendable endeavors of the Neutral Commission and transfer negotiations to Buenos Aires, Argentina would not countenance this but would drop the whole matter; that the Argentine Government had consistently supported the Neutral Commission and would continue to do so; and that any advice which he had given to the Paraguayan Minister here had been in an endeavor to produce a conciliatory solution in support of the efforts of the Neutral Commission; that Paraguay should act frankly with Neutral Commission; that as long as he was head of the Foreign [Page 179] Office his Government would observe, in case of war, the strictest neutrality which would be actively enforced.
The Minister is giving the press today the following statement:
“Owing to report of negotiations credited to the Foreign Office in regard to the conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay, we have been informed today in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that although it is true that it follows, and will continue to follow closely and with deep interest, all the incidents of the pending negotiations, until such time as the object pursued by the continent of insuring a definite participation is secured, it must be realized that the Commission of Neutrals in Washington, as the result of its diplomatic activities, continues to carry on the negotiations as previously, and it is the Commission which is taking action in the conflict. Moreover, there is not the slightest doubt that the Commission is acting with the collaboration of all the neutral nations and especially of the four neighboring countries which signed the Agreement of August 6th”.
I asked him whether his Government would counsel the Government of Bolivia and Paraguay to accept the Neutral proposal of August 943 and he answered in the affirmative.