724.3415/2191: Telegram
The Minister in Paraguay (Wheeler) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 1—12:32 a.m.]
104. Your telegram No. 40, August 31, 2 p.m.58 I have just come from the President and regret to say he feels Paraguay cannot change its decision as to the truce. For him to favor acceptance, he states, would mean open revolt in the Cabinet and in the Army and the signing of any agreement of whatever sort accepting for any period of time Bolivia’s retention of the three captured fortines would be considered by the people a defeat for Paraguay and the result would be disastrous for the Government. I shall talk with him again before the Cabinet passes on the reply but I do not believe this attitude can be changed.
The General Staff has no intention at present of beginning a general offensive or of attempting to invade the Chaco west of the line of the Bolivian fortines but as soon as a Bolivian advance to the east of Boquerón seems imminent it must be opposed. Instructions to this effect have been given to field commanders and they will act when it becomes necessary without further orders from Asunción.
Bolivia’s acceptance of a 30 days’ truce is interpreted here as indicating the time she considers necessary to complete her mobilization and it is assumed her plan is thereafter to utilize the short period remaining before the October rains in an attack whose objective will be her establishment at a point further to the east from which she cannot be dislodged this year and from which she can break through to the river next season.
The new Chilean Minister who presented his letters yesterday broached to the President the idea of transferring the negotiations from the Neutrals to the Argentina, Brazil, Chile, group but the President stated to him that Paraguay could not consider it.
- Not printed.↩