724.3415/2050: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Bolivia (Feely)
26. Your 52, August 13, 10 a.m. Department desires you to discuss the situation frankly and fully with Minister of Foreign Affairs to see what concrete suggestions he may have. As you have been informed, the Neutrals can not agree to any proposal that in effect scraps the declaration of the 19 countries of August 3. The Bolivian proposal to cease hostilities on the basis of actual occupations would scrap the declaration of August 3. To help the Bolivian Government out the Neutrals inquired whether Bolivia would recognize the principles of that declaration by a statement to that effect and by fixing a definite date on which, in the absence of direct agreement with Paraguay, the positions taken since June 1st would be returned.
Department is advised by Paraguay that it rejects the suggestion made to both countries by Argentina that there be a truce on the basis of actual positions. This proposal runs counter to the declaration of August 3 and can not be supported by the Neutrals. Discuss the matter with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, find out what his ideas are and cable the Department fully and please keep it currently advised by cable of any changes in the situation. The Department wants to know whether there is a real desire for settlement on the part of the Bolivian authorities, what their ideas regarding the settlement are, and the state of public opinion in the country.
The Neutrals can not suggest an arbitrary line as the definitive solution without prejudging the relative merits of the cases of the two countries. They would of course be glad to act as a transmission agency in sounding out Paraguay regarding any proposal that Bolivia may desire them to make to Paraguay on Bolivia’s behalf. Was the Ichazo-Benítez line proposed by Bolivian authorities or have you definite reason to believe it would be acceptable to Bolivia?