724.3415/2267b: Telegram
The Commission of Neutrals to the Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Gutiérrez)60
The representatives of the neutral countries have received with regret the refusal of Paraguay to accept a truce, and of Bolivia to suspend the mobilization of her troops at this time, and desire to point out once more the great responsibility incurred by any country which refuses to accept pacific means under such circumstances.
The representatives of the neutral countries, in order to make one more effort to discover some practical basis, not only for the cessation of hostilities but also for the settlement of the Chaco conflict, wish to ask whether Bolivia and Paraguay are disposed to stop hostilities immediately and enter into an arrangement which shall definitively lead to a settlement of the conflict by arbitration.
In order to be in position to present a clear and definite proposal, in accordance with the ideas set forth, the Neutral Commission has the honor to ask whether Bolivia and Paraguay agree that, if after 3 months of negotiations, which would begin at the latest on October 1, 1932, and the two governments have not been able to reach an agreement, either as to a direct arrangement of the difficulties or else with regard to the manner of submitting the conflict to arbitration, the [Page 87] different points of view of the two governments in regard to the arbitration compromise shall be submitted to the Seventh Pan American Conference, which will be held in Montevideo in 1933, or to the Permanent Court of International Justice of The Hague, in order that the Conference or the Court, as the case may be, may draw up the arbitration compromise which they consider will be the most equitable and just for both parties.
The Commission of Neutrals has viewed with deep anxiety the latest acts of hostility in the Chaco, which cause such serious injury to the interests of peace and to the good name of America.
It earnestly recommends that immediate orders be given to stop all military aggression and movement of troops.
President of the Commission of Neutrals
Minister of Uruguay
Minister of Colombia
Chargé d’Affaires of Cuba
Chargé d’Affaires of Mexico
- The same telegram, September 10, to the Paraguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩