724.3415/2276: Telegram
The Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Gutiérrez) to the Chairman of the Commission of Neutrals (White)
[Received 6:14 p.m.]
In reply to cablegram Commission of Neutrals dated the 10th, I have the honor to advise you that Bolivia at this moment is limiting herself to resisting the Paraguayan offensive. Suspension hostilities does not depend on the party attacked, which cannot abandon its defense. My Government, in accepting in the note of August 30th, the proposed truce, understood that immobilization of troops could not be an antecedent but a consequence thereof, subject to a special agreement, in view of the unequal situation of the two countries. Bolivia never refused pacific means consistent with her dignity, and accepted truce proposal without distrust in order to take up settlement of fundamentals. In repeating now the same attitude, I have to advise you that once a truce has been agreed upon, an attempt would be made to effect a direct arrangement or establish the bases of arbitration under the friendly auspices of the representatives of the neutral powers.