724.3415/2442: Telegram
The Minister in Paraguay (Wheeler) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:20 p.m.]
135. Your telegram No. 44, October 20, 6 p.m. I do not believe such a representation has been made to the Government here unless by way of the Argentine Ambassador in Washington and Soler. Soler several days ago called expressing the opinion that the neutrals were powerless to accomplish anything further and recommending that he might be recalled to Asunción in order that Paraguay might have her hands free but a reply was sent him that this would not be done. Both the President and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have assured me several times in the past few days, the President as recently as this morning, that there is no intention of withdrawing the delegation from Washington. This Government has no faith in the League’s ability to settle the present dispute and was greatly disappointed at the makeup of its special committee, especially at the selection of Madariaga. It counts Spain as wholly without influence in South America and is angered at the fact that the Spanish military mission remains in Bolivia.
The opinion prevails here however that the neutrals are without authority and that nothing is to be expected from them. Yesterday a committee of the opposition party visited the President to express the opinion and to demand that the war be prosecuted without further reference to the neutrals’ suggestions.
During the past month the Government’s faith in the neutrals’ ability to bring about a solution has greatly diminished and Ayala has returned to his conviction that a settlement without the active participation either of the four neighbor powers or of Argentina will be impossible. He believes that if the neutral powers, with the approval of the League, would request Argentina, as being the neighbor country most nearly interested in the controversy, to study the situation and suggest a concrete plan of procedure, it would furnish her with the opportunity she really desires. A telegram has been sent to Soler containing this suggestion with instructions to broach it to you if an opportunity offers.