724.3415/2093: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Bliss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:56 p.m.]
77. Following receipt this afternoon of Department’s circular, August 18, 1 p.m., and 53, August 18, 1 p.m.49 I talked with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He stated that for the third time he could assure me Argentina was not making suggestions to Bolivia [Page 185] and Paraguay, that the information received at the Department must be the result of intrigue and that it was annoying to be accused of actions which he had already denied.
He showed me copy of telegram sent Espil last night informing him of conversation with Minister of Bolivia, in which latter had voluntarily called and indicated the disposition of Bolivia to accept a proposal which is similar to the one contained in first paragraph your above mentioned circular. The Minister stated that the proposal was not his and that he did not know whether it would be accepted by Paraguay. He indicated that if it were desired by the Neutral Commission he would send confidentially a representative to Asunción to determine whether the indications made by Minister of Bolivia were acceptable to President of Paraguay.
I inquired why the Bolivian Government did not make the suggestion to Commission in Washington; it seemed to be his opinion that Bolivia was perhaps playing politics in coming to him with the suggestion. When acquainting him with Department’s telegram No. 53, he replied that he would be glad to take any action in sustaining the Neutrals which the Commission might definitely indicate, without which he feared he would again be accused of taking action independently of the Commission. Although I urged that his support in La Paz of the Neutrals’ suggestions would be welcome and helpful he said that he would prefer to have a definite request from the Neutrals as to exactly what was desired of him and that he would then talk with the representatives here of Brazil, Chile and Peru urging that the four Governments take concerted action in La Paz. He considered that such action should be discreetly taken to avoid creating resentment by Bolivians of too strong pressure though he was willing to act with the other three in counselling as strongly as prudence would permit acceptance of Neutrals’ suggestion.
Minister of Foreign Affairs again (see my 73, August 15, 10 p.m.) emphasized that Chile could exert more effective influence on Bolivia than could other three neighboring countries.
- Latter not printed.↩