Office of the Historian

724.3415/2288f: Telegram

The Commission of Neutrals to the Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Gutiérrez)62

[Translation]
Washington, September 14, 1932.

The Commission of Neutrals notes with satisfaction that the Governments of Bolivia and Paraguay express their decision to accept pacific means for the settlement of the conflict.

In proof whereof, at this time, it transcribes to Your Excellency the reply of Paraguay to the latest cablegram from the neutrals: [Here [Page 89] follows text of telegram of September 12, printed on page 87.]63

Under such circumstances it is inconceivable and deserving of the most severe censure that blood should flow on American soil.

The Commission of Neutrals makes a new, urgent appeal to the antagonists to:

  • First. Order the immediate cessation of hostilities, and
  • Second. Order the withdrawal of their troops to 10 kilometers behind the line which they at present occupy in the Chaco, the zone being demilitarized.

The commission would send representatives in order that they might certify that such withdrawal, which should be initiated on the 16th of September, had been carried out. The possibility would thus be assured of stopping the shedding of blood, and undertaking the negotiations for the arrangement of the fundamental problem, the pacific settlement of which is desired by both contenders and is demanded by the prestige and the humanitarian sentiments of all America.

Francis White

President of the Commission of Neutrals
J. Varela

Minister of Uruguay
Fabio Lozano T.

Minister of Colombia
José T. Barón

Chargé d’Affaires of Cuba
P. Herrera de Huerta

Chargé d’Affaires of Mexico
  1. The same telegram, mutatis mutandis, September 14, to the Paraguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
  2. In the Neutrals’ note to Paraguay, substitute: [Here follows text of telegram of September 13, printed supra.]↩