724.3415/2583: Telegram
The Secretary General of the League of Nations (Drummond) to the Chairman of the Commission of Neutrals (White)
[Received 9:54 a.m.]
Am instructed by President Council communicate information your Committee following telegrams which have not yet been considered by Council committee.
First, from Paraguayan Government:
[Translation]40 “November 28th. Paraguay earnestly desires immediate termination of the conflict in the Chaco provided she obtains guarantees against further Bolivian attacks on her legitimate heritage. My Government understands that the League of Nations can exercise decisive influence by an investigation which would permit of determining the country responsible for the conflict, in order that the sanctions established by the statutes may be applied to it.”
Second, from Bolivian Government:
[Translation] “December 1st. I have the honor to reply to the last cablegram of Your Excellency with the following statements: Bolivia is disposed to suspend hostilities immediately, but Paraguay begins by assuming as her legitimate heritage the territory in litigation and wishes to impose on Bolivia before the Neutrals her material renunciation, a condition unacceptable in law. Moreover, Bolivia is at present the country under attack. It is not the one which is defending itself that should cease hostilities. We inform the League that Bolivia accepted at the proper time Commission proposed, with this sole modification, Civil Commission presided over by a high American military officer. Bolivia is continuing this line of action with the Neutrals.”
- Original in Spanish; translation made in the Department of State.↩