724.3415/2857: Telegram (part air)
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4—3:05 p.m.]
37. Wilson’s 88, January 31, 4 p.m. Council this morning adopted a report of the Committee of Three in the Bolivia-Paraguay dispute. The report reviews the questions which the Committee had considered regarding the constitution and mandate of a commission of inquiry and included the results of consultations with Bolivia and Paraguay on this question and their responses. The Committee found that in substance both answers, while favorable in principle to the proposal, suggest that League action be deferred until the result of the efforts of neighboring states in cooperation with the Commission of Neutrals is known (Wilson’s 87, January 31, 2 p.m.). The Committee of Three recommend that the Council should postpone for the present further consideration of sending a commission of inquiry and reserve the possibility of submitting proposals for action at a later date if necessary.
[Page 268]After a lengthy expose of the part of the Bolivian and Paraguayan delegates which developed nothing new the Council sent the following telegram:
“Fighting is continuing between two members of the League of Nations who are bound by the Covenant. That this should still be going on in spite of the various opportunities which have been offered for settling the conflict is a fact of exceptional gravity. The Council addressed to both Governments an urgent appeal to make the necessary effort to end hostilities and conclude an armistice. The Council will continue to follow developments with close attention and reserves the possibility of making proposals should the occasion arise. It expresses its keen anxiety that the negotiations now in course may succeed in settling the dispute.”54
- See League of Nations, Official Journal, February 1933, p. 255.↩