724.3415/3150
Memorandum by the Chairman of the Commission of Neutrals (White)
I telephoned the Argentine Ambassador to inquire whether he had any reply to make to the communication of the Neutral Commission of May 9. He said that he did not but that he was decoding a telegram then. He later called me back to say that his Government felt that the matter was now in the hands of the League and that there was nothing to do at this time. Mr. Espil said that he thought any meeting now might seem as though we were trying to interfere with what Geneva was doing. I told Mr. Espil that, quite the contrary, if we had a meeting and supported what Geneva was doing it would end for good and all any possibility of either Bolivia or Paraguay trying to play off either the Neutral group or the neighboring group against the League. I said that it was evident that this was what Bolivia was trying to do at the present moment from telegrams we had received from Geneva, and I thought that Argentina, standing aside, merely served to continue the uncertainty which now exists regarding Argentina’s activity. I said I realized that Argentina had never wanted to cooperate with the Neutral Commission and that if there was any feeling on the part of Argentina that they did not want to take action in Washington we had invited them on May 9 to meet anywhere else, and that if even that did not fit in with Argentina’s plans I would ask him to find out whether his Government would advise Bolivia categorically and in writing that it was backing the League proposal and whether it would make public announcement thereof, publishing the text of its communication. I said it was not necessary for us all to have a meeting together either in Washington or anywhere else; if all would take common action that might bring about the peace that the Neutral Commission has been striving for, and would, from our point of view, [Page 333] be just as satisfactory. As long as Argentina continues the policy of not supporting effectively other peace moves, it continues the uncertainty as to what her action and desires are, and makes it possible for one of the contesting parties to try to play off one group against the other. I said I very much hoped that on behalf of peace in this hemisphere his Government would now take some positive affirmative action by sending a note to Bolivia suporting the League action and making public its position. Mr. Espil said that nobody could doubt that Argentina was supporting the League and that he did not think this was necessary. I told him that the statement made by the Bolivian delegate in Geneva, as well as what the Bolivian Minister here told me, certainly gave the impression that Bolivia was trying to play off the Neutral Commission and the neighboring group against the League Committee, while I personally knew nothing which would justify my feeling that Argentina was backing the League, and that I thought it worth while for him to try to get his Government to take some positive action at this time. He said he agreed and would do so.