724.3415/2102: Telegram
The Ambassador in Peru (Dearing) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:05 p.m.]
121. Chaco. Foreign Office informs me the initiative mentioned in first paragraph Department’s circular August 18, 1 p.m., belongs to Peru and is Peru’s idea and that the Peruvian Ambassadors in Washington, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro have been appropriately [Page 186] instructed, Freyre having been directed fully to inform both Commission of Neutrals and our Government in conformity with agreement of August 10th.50 Foreign Office was unaware Argentina was already acting on the suggestion and is awaiting reports from Buenos Aires, Santiago, Bio de Janeiro and Washington.
In this connection and with reference to my telegram No. 118 [119], August 16, 9 p.m.,51 news despatches today report failure of mission of Bolivian Foreign Minister at Santiago and his return to La Paz. Foreign Office confirms this, stating that our Ambassador in Santiago sat in with the Peruvian, Argentine, Brazilian and the Chilean representatives at their conferences. I assume therefore Department has full information from Santiago.
Department’s circular August 18, 2 p.m.51 Foreign Office states Freyre instructed to inform our Government and Commission of Neutrals Peru will support by direct representations at La Paz the proposal of the Commission of Neutrals of August 17th52 and will ask Bolivia to do so within the terms of the declaration of the American countries of August 3rd. Foreign Office adds whole performance of Peru and the other three neighboring countries is to support the Commission of Neutrals in every way and that Peru and her associates are determined to do so.