724.3415/2522: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Chairman of the American Delegation to the General Disarmament Conference (Gibson)
34. For Wilson from White. Your 42, November 17, 5 p.m. Please express appreciation to Drummond for his helpful attitude. The course he outlines would be helpful. Under paragraph 3 it might be well to point out to him exactly what the Neutral Commission’s suggestion was regarding the sending of a military commission. The Neutrals on August 2 suggested37 a return to the positions held by both countries on June 1st, that is positions before the outbreak of the recent military operations, the first attack of which as denounced to the Neutral Commission occurred on June 15. Bolivia had indicated a readiness to stop hostilities on the line of actual positions held in August after they had captured four Paraguayan forts. The Neutral proposal was made in order to prevent Paraguay from attempting to recapture those positions as a preliminary to peace discussions. Bolivia refused to change her position and hostilities continued. Paraguay took the position that she would not consent to a truce which might be used by Bolivia to better her military position in order to attack Paraguay at the end of the truce should negotiations fail. Paraguay’s position, as stated by her, is that she wants a complete termination of hostilities and guarantees that hostilities will not be resumed and that the matter will be submitted to arbitration. Paraguay professes to fear that Bolivia will put up conditions for arbitration which will make negotiations fail and will then renew hostilities after having improved her military position during the truce. In order to try to give some assurance which would permit the cessation of hostilities, the Commission on September 22 suggested to both countries38 that they accept an unconditional termination of hostilities and the immediate initiation of negotiations for the settlement of their differences by means of an arbitration without reservations. The Commission added that it would immediately send a delegation to the Chaco to verify the effective termination of hostilities and informed the parties that if this delegation advised the Neutral Commission that one of the parties had violated the engagement to terminate the struggle the Neutral Commission would declare that country to be the aggressor and would suggest that all the Governments of America withdraw their diplomatic and consular representatives from that country. It was hoped that the sending of this [Page 250] Commission and the proposed action to follow would give such guarantees as would permit the termination of hostilities.
Paraguay accepted the submission of the controversy to international justice but made conditions regarding the cessation of hostilities which were not accepted by Bolivia. Bolivia accepted the unconditional termination of hostilities but made reservations regarding arbitration. The proposal not having been accepted by the two countries the sending of a military commission was of course held in abeyance.
On October 1239 the Neutrals suggested that the two delegates start direct negotiations with one another in meetings of the Neutral Commission, to draw up an agreement covering the following points: 1, the separation of the troops in the Chaco; 2, the demobilization of the reserve troops of both countries, and 3, the reduction and limitation for a stated period of the regular army in both Paraguay and Bolivia. The Neutral communication added: “It is understood that a commission of neutral military officers will be provided for in the agreement to verify compliance with the above conditions.” It was stated that the agreement should also provide that the controversy between the two Governments would be settled solely by arbitration and provide for the opening within a reasonable period, say a fortnight after the signing of the agreement, of negotiations for an arbitral settlement of the Chaco dispute. Both Governments accepted to open a discussion on this basis and these discussions are now going on. The sending of the military commission of course depends upon the two Governments agreeing to stop hostilities. On account of the conditions of the terrain, et cetera, it is perfectly futile to send a commission to the Chaco while fighting is still going on. These negotiations are proceeding satisfactorily and developments in the last few days have been most encouraging. There is a difficult political situation in La Paz which has delayed matters somewhat but a telegram from the American Legation in La Paz today indicates that the chances that a cabinet will now be formed are much better and that more progress may be hoped for in the next few days.
Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Drummond’s suggestion might be combined and have the Council call on the two parties to cease hostilities so that the military commission proposed by the Neutrals could go at once to the Chaco to examine the facts and arrange that there should be no resumption of hostilities. [White.]