724.3415/2571
The Argentine Ambassador (Espil) to the Chairman of the Commission of Neutrals (White)
Your Excellency: In accordance with instructions which I have received from my Chancellery, I address myself to Your Excellency in reply to the communication of the fourth instant to this Embassy from the Commission of Neutrals.
It has been very gratifying to the Argentine Government to be informed that the proposal formulated on September 22 by the Commission of Neutrals—in which proposal it expressed the intention of inviting all the nations of the Continent to formulate a joint declaration which would characterize the country which refused immediate cessation of hostilities in the Bolivian-Paraguayan conflict and unconditional submission to arbitration, as the aggressor, under the coercive force of suggesting to all American governments that they withdraw their diplomatic and consular representatives from such country—does not involve, in the sense in which that proposal was submitted, a threat, either explicit or by implication, since before it could be adopted, acceptance by the two contending countries had to be counted upon.
There is, thus, cleared up, for my Government, one fundamental point which gave rise to the observations contained in the note of October 18 from this Embassy to the Commission, and my Government is pleased to be informed of the interpretation of the text of the telegram of September 22, an interpretation which it was not easy to perceive clearly as the text read, on the hypothesis that a [Page 214] measure which appeared to be one of coercion was contingent upon previous acceptance by the parties at which it appeared to be directed.
My Government is also glad to concur in the opinion of the Commission of Neutrals that the interests of peace and the broadest humanitarian ideas do not oblige it to hold back the proposals, directed to terminating the struggle which has arisen between the two countries in conflict, until they have ratified a legal instrument to which they are parties.
It was, without doubt, because of concurring in these ideas that from the first moment my Government took part in the movement for peace which culminated in the declaration of August 3, and made such full contribution, that there will remain, as an honorable testimony of its cooperative action, the telegram which, on the 8th of August, 1932,77 bearing the signatures of all the members of the Commission of Neutrals, was addressed to our Chancellery, with the final declaration:
“In informing Your Excellency of our action in execution of the declaration of America of the 3rd instant which your country has supported with its high authority, we are sure that we have proceeded in harmony with the true interests of both countries in conflict, the permanent interests of the Continent and the thought and intention of Your Excellency’s Government”.
The confidence expressed by the Commission of Neutrals that Argentina will always be disposed to take part in the efforts which, on behalf of peace, the countries of the Continent may consider necessary to make in common accord is therefore well founded, and I can assure Your Excellency that this hope will in no case be betrayed.
My Government regrets that it does not similarly concur in the opinion expressed by the Commission of Neutrals when it attributes to its laudable work for peace and to the efforts which culminated in the declaration of nineteen American states, the same force and efficacy which an instrument might have which would lend effective operation to so noble a purpose.
The grievous spectacle of the continuance of the bloody conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay, in spite of the said declaration and of the efforts which we have all made, seems to afford sufficient proof that, when the influence of moral opinion does not suffice, because of the obstinacy of the countries in conflict, before entering upon the plane of practical and effective coercion to the end of imposing the purpose of peace, however lofty such purpose may be, it is necessary to give it the foundation of a legal instrument investing the action [Page 215] carried out in that sense with a real force with which only a legal basis can endow it.
Precisely because it concurs in the opinion of the Commission that a project for international conduct is not always born perfectly developed from its beginnings, the Argentine Government has formulated an anti-war pact78 complementary to the various instruments of peace which avoids, for the future, the unhappy impotence in which we find ourselves to impose, by legal means agreed to and sufficient, the sovereignty of peace in America.
The Commission of Neutrals states that it can not judge of the project referred to, because the project has not been sent to it, and the Commission only knows that it has been submitted for study to some American chancelleries. My Government will take great pleasure in bringing it to the hands of the Commission, but it was logical that in the official procedure the project should be addressed to the chancelleries, as it is well known that the Commission of Neutrals lacks political power, not being an international person qualified to deliver itself authoritatively regarding it, but merely an assemblage of friendly countries joined together in an action of the highest order, a high purpose of peace which does honor to them, as well as to us other American nations who have gone along with them, an assemblage, however, the extent of whose action is rigorously limited to that of good offices.
It would therefore be almost unnecessary to add that within the harmony of views pointed out, the Argentine Government will always be disposed to lend its collaboration, as it has done from the first moment, to every effort which may be made to restore peace to the relations between Bolivia and Paraguay, since the grievous consequences of those relations have serious repercussions on its situation as a neighboring country, causing expenses and constant anxieties which place my country in a unique position, circumstances which will cause it to lose no opportunity which may present itself [and]78a to take the initiative which it may believe opportune, to contribute to the termination of a struggle so unhappy between two sister nations.
My Government being keenly aware of the lofty spirit which inspired the Commission of Neutrals during all its work, and brought about the consecration of principles which do honor to the Commission as well as to all the American countries which have subscribed to these principles, does not for one moment believe that it has ever had any idea of obstructing, in any case, action designed to bring about concord and international peace which other existing organisms [Page 216] may develop, and it is convinced that the latter will have, for that purpose, the full liberty of action which may be necessary to them to put an end to a war which may well be called fratricidal. In this sense, my Government believes that the League of Nations has in this emergency a field of action indicated by the will of the contending parties themselves, who are signatories of the constituent covenant of the League, and that while it works within the purpose with which we all are inspired, we are also in agreement that it can and ought to develop its action without finding an obstacle in regional or continental doctrines concerning which, on our part, we see the necessity of pointing out that they have not had Argentine adhesion nor a consecration established by the unanimous will of the countries of the Continent.
I take pleasure [etc.]