724.3415/2841: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 31—12:34 p.m.]
88. Supplementing my 87, January 31, 2 p.m., Costa du Rels, Bolivian delegate, just explained to me that his Government held firmly to the idea that the dispute ought to be settled by American nations. He stated that he thought the Council Committee had gone a little too rapidly at the task in view of the efforts that are to be made tomorrow by the Foreign Ministers of Argentine and Chile. He also thought the Council Committee had been premature in announcing the nationalities represented on the proposed commission of inquiry since [Page 265] it was a shock to Bolivian public opinion to contemplate an Argentine on such a committee. He stated that neither Paraguay nor Bolivia had yet answered Drummond’s inquiry and that he felt the best thing to do was to delay such a reply until the action of the neighboring states could be cleared up. He pointed out that the situation was difficult politically because under the obligations of the Covenant it was difficult to refuse a commission of inquiry without entailing regrettable consequences.
I naturally did not divulge to him that Paraguay had replied and in the light of your 60 agreed with him that perhaps the best thing to do would be for his Government to make no reply until the situation of the neighboring states was clearer than it is now. The situation might well be cleared up within the next few days after the meeting at Mendoza.
Costa was in entire accord and stated that he might perhaps hope for a reply from his Government about the end of the week.