724.3415/3004: Telegram
The Minister in Bolivia (Feely) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:13 p.m.]
30. Referring to my telegram No. 29, April 9, 7 p.m., and following a meeting with my three colleagues intended to coordinate the action of the four countries we carried out our instructions individually this afternoon on the basis of a friendly exploration as to possible modifications in the two principal Bolivian reservations with the following result:
[Page 304]The Minister of Foreign Affairs informed each of us individually that we might inform our Governments that the Bolivian Government while it would not withdraw its reservations on these points, officially announced that the delimitation of the arbitral zone as set forth in the Bolivian reply was not a condition sine qua non of further negotiations and that it was open to friendly suggestions as to modifications thereof.
As to the withdrawal of troops the Minister of Foreign Affairs declared that this was a technical military matter of secondary consideration and that once an agreement had been reached as to the arbitral zone Bolivia would be willing to withdraw her troops even farther than the line proposed or even to consider partial demobilization.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs in making these identical declarations to each of us, responded cordially to our representations and we were favorably impressed by his attitude. He stated that he was considering the advisability of notifying each of the four Governments officially of these declarations. Peruvian Minister is without instructions.